US and UK Conduct Airstrikes on Houthi Targets in Yemen in Response to Attacks on Ships
According to Houthi officials, the airstrikes killed at least 16 people and wounded 35. The UK and the US struck 13 Houthi targets in several locations in Yemen on Thursday in response to a recent surge in attacks by the Iran-backed militia group on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, as reported by three US officials. The Houthi rebels claimed that the airstrikes resulted in casualties among their ranks. American and British fighter jets, as well as US ships, targeted a wide range of underground facilities, missile launchers, command and control sites, a Houthi vessel, and other facilities as confirmed by US sources. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, provided early details of the ongoing military operation. The Houthis condemned the airstrikes, linking them to Yemen's support for Gaza and Israel's alleged crimes in the region. This military action came following a US drone being downed in Yemen, with the Houthis releasing footage of the incident. Additionally, recent missile attacks on ships in the Red Sea have heightened tensions, with the Houthis claiming responsibility for the assaults. The Houthis' intensified attacks on shipping lanes have led to increased military responses from the UK and US, with joint airstrikes being conducted against the group. The US has continued to carry out targeted strikes to neutralize Houthi threats, including missiles and drones aimed at ships. The Houthis have been vocal in their demands for an end to the conflict in Gaza, which they attribute to the increased violence towards maritime vessels. The ongoing clashes have raised concerns about the safety of commercial shipping in the region, with over 50 attacks on vessels reported in recent months by the US Maritime Administration.
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