The United States and the United Kingdom carried out strikes on Saturday evening, February 24, targeting eighteen Houthi targets in eight separate sites in Yemen, in response to attacks carried out by these rebels supported by Iran against ships in Red Sea, the Pentagon announced.
Journalists from Agence France-Presse (AFP), present in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, heard loud explosions on Saturday. A security source close to the Houthis, interviewed by AFP, for his part confirmed shortly after the reality of these American-British strikes.
Pro-Iran insurgents, whose stronghold is Sanaa, have promised to “respond to US-UK escalation with more sophisticated military operations against all hostile targets in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea, in order to defend our country, our people and our nation”according to a statement from the Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Saree.
These joint air raids in Yemen were carried out with other countries that supported the operation: Canada, Australia, Bahrain, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand, according to a communicated common to the eight countries.
Houthi rebels “will suffer the consequences” of their attacks in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, warnedSaturday, the American Minister of Defense, Lloyd Austin, shortly after the announcement of the strikes. “The United States will not hesitate to take action, if necessary, to defend human lives and free trade”added the head of the Pentagon.
In addition to joint operations with Britain, the United States has carried out unilateral strikes against Houthi sites in Yemen and shot down dozens of missiles and drones in the Red Sea.
Earlier on Saturday, the US Middle East Command (Centcom) announced that a US Navy ship had shot down an anti-ship ballistic missile. “launched into the Gulf of Aden from areas of Yemen controlled by the Iran-backed Houthis”. The missile “probably targeted the MV Torm Thor, a US-flagged and US-operated chemical/oil tanker”Centcom said on X on Saturday.
On Friday, the American armed forces announced that they had shot down three attack drones from Yemen’s Houthi rebels during the day in the Red Sea and destroyed seven anti-ship missiles positioned on land.
Royal Air Force engaged in raids on ‘two sites’
In London, the Ministry of Defense confirmed the participation of the Royal Air Force in Saturday’s raids, specifying that four Typhoon fighter bombers had been mobilized, as well as two tanker planes. The British aircraft aimed “multiple targets” focused on “two sites”said the ministry in a press release.
Other similar US-British raids on Yemeni territory have taken place in recent weeks, the first time on the night of January 11-12.
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The UKMTO maritime security agency, run by the British navy, said a ship in the Gulf of Aden 70 nautical miles (130 kilometers) east of the port of Djibouti had reported in night from Saturday to Sunday “an explosion near the ship” causing no damage or injuries.
“The ship is heading to its next port of call”according to the same source.
Houthi rebels, who control large areas of Yemen, have been carrying out attacks on ships in the region since November 2023. They claim to be acting in solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where Israel is waging a war against Hamas in retaliation for the unprecedented October 7 attack on Israeli soil.
British ships targeted
“The more than forty-five Houthi attacks on commercial and military vessels since mid-November 2023 pose a threat to the global economy, as well as regional stability and security, and demand an international response. Our coalition of like-minded countries remains committed to protecting freedom of navigation and international trade and holding the Houthis accountable for their illegal and unjustifiable attacks.”justified the eight allied countries in their press release.
According to a message on X from British Defense Minister Grant Shapps, Saturday’s air raids represent the “fourth round of precision strikes” British against rebels in Yemen.
In recent days, the Houthis have notably attacked two ships linked to British interests, including the Rubymartargeted by a missile attack and which loses fuel in the Gulf of Aden.