Following escalating tensions in the Middle East, the United States and United Kingdom have carried out military strikes targeting Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Iran-aligned Houthis have been implicated in recent assaults on shipping vessels navigating the Red Sea, triggering serious concerns about an intensifying conflict in the region.
On Thursday, US President Joe Biden delivered a stark warning, indicating his readiness to take further measures if deemed necessary. Biden emphasized that the conducted strikes were in direct response to the Houthis’ "unprecedented" attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
“These targeted strikes are a clear message that the United States and our partners will not tolerate attacks on our personnel or allow hostile actors to imperil freedom of navigation,” Biden declared.
The Houthis, on the other hand, condemned the attacks on Yemen as "barbaric" and stated on Friday that no justification exists for such actions. The group also expressed that it remains firm on targeting vessels en route to Israel. Yahya Saree, the military spokesperson for the Houthis, reported that 73 strikes across five different regions in Yemen under their control, resulted in the death of five individuals and injured six others, though further details on the casualties were not provided.
“The American and British enemy bears full responsibility for its criminal aggression against our Yemeni people, and it will not go unanswered and unpunished,” Saree cautioned.
Mohammed Abdul-Salam, the chief negotiator and spokesperson for the Houthis, criticized the US and UK for what he described as "foolishness with this treacherous aggression". In his statement posted online, Abdul-Salam claimed the strikes would not deter Yemen’s stance in supporting Palestine and Gaza, asserting that "targeting will continue to affect Israeli ships or those heading to the ports of occupied Palestine."
According to reports from Al Masirah, a Houthi-run satellite news channel, the locations hit by the strikes included al-Dailami air base just north of the capital Sanaa, the Hodeidah airport—a strategic port city airport—, a camp east of Saada, the Taiz city airport, and an airport near Hajjah.
This strike series marks the first on Yemeni territory since 2016, and it also represents the first time the US has intervened militarily in response to the Houthis’ drone and missile attacks on commercial ships, concurrent with the conflict in Gaza that began in October.
The Houthi movement, which has had control over much of Yemen after nearly a decade of warfare against a Saudi-led coalition backed by the West, staunchly supports Hamas in its conflict with Israel.
Palestine's Hamas has stated the US and UK will have to shoulder responsibility for the repercussions these strikes may have on the region’s security. The Houthis have not only attacked commercial shipping, alleging links with Israel or Israeli-bound destinations but have also directly engaged the US Navy in the Red Sea, deploying ballistic missiles and armed drones against American and British warships.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described the strikes as "necessary and proportionate", while Britain’s defence ministry voiced optimism that the Houthi’s capacity to threaten merchant shipping has been curtailed.
Giorgio Cafiero, CEO of Gulf State Analytics, suggested that the US had alternatives to military action. He indicated that one option would have been encouraging Israel towards a ceasefire agreement in Gaza using Washington’s influence, but the Biden administration opted against this path due to political considerations.
“This has the potential to drag the US into a protracted conflict in the Middle East,” Cafiero remarked, indicating concern over the direction of current US policy decisions.
The US disclosed that Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands supported the operation, framing the strikes as a concerted international effort to secure free trade along a vital maritime corridor linking Europe and Asia, which handles around 15 percent of global shipping traffic.
Iran, backing the Houthis, denounced the strikes, and Russia requested an urgent United Nations Security Council meeting to address the military actions. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia advocated for restraint and avoidance of further escalation.
Earlier in the month, a US-led alliance of nations warned the Houthis of "consequences" if they failed to halt "illegal attacks" on maritime vessels and release "unlawfully detained vessels and crews". A recent joint statement from the US, Britain, and additional allies emphasized their goal to de-escalate tensions and stabilize the Red Sea region. Nevertheless, they asserted their readiness to defend lives and protect commerce against continued threats.
