The United States and Britain have launched military strikes against targets in Houthi-controlled Yemen, according to two U.S. officials. The strikes, carried out using fighter jets and Tomahawk missiles fired from Navy ships, aimed at multiple locations.
Rising Tensions in Yemen
The decision to carry out these strikes came after U.S. Central Command reported that the Iranian-backed Houthis had fired anti-ship ballistic missiles from Yemen into international shipping lanes in the Gulf of Aden. Thankfully, there were no injuries or damage reported, as a commercial vessel witnessed the missile striking the water. This marks the 27th attack by the Houthis on international shipping since November 19, 2023, said Central Command.
The Houthis, originating from Yemen’s northwestern Saada province, gained power during the Arab Spring protests in 2011. With support from Tehran, they took control of the country’s capital three years later. Their rise to power sparked a wider conflict with Saudi Arabia, Iran’s regional rival, and has resulted in what the United Nations has called the “largest humanitarian crisis in the world.”
International Response
Although the United States, Britain, and several other nations initially supported the Saudi-led war, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman initiated peace talks with the Houthis and scaled down the military operation last year.
However, tensions escalated when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7. In response, the Houthis pledged support for the Palestinian militants and started attacking vessels in the Red Sea. Despite demands from the United States, France, and other Western allies to halt these missile and drone attacks, the Houthis claimed they were only targeting ships with links to Israel as a means to pressure Israel into ending its war in Gaza.
In light of these developments, the United States and other countries deployed warships to patrol the crucial shipping corridor. Last week, U.S. helicopters fired on Houthis after they attacked a cargo ship.
During his recent visit to Saudi Arabia, Secretary of State Antony Blinken made it clear that the group would face “consequences” if the attacks continued. However, his “strong preference” was for the group to “get the message.”
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