• Yemen Houthi airstrikes
    West Asia

    Yemen : US and UK Launch Coordinated Strikes

    European Newsdesk Posted on

    In a significant escalation, American and British forces launched coordinated strikes against Houthi-controlled facilities in Yemen, targeting underground sites, missile launchers, and command centers, according to officials speaking on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing nature of the military operation. The strikes also destroyed a Houthi vessel and eight uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) identified as threats to U.S. and coalition forces. The Ansar Allah (Houthi) are an extremist Iran back proxy which control significant parts of Yemen.

    The military action comes in the wake of a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone being shot down in Yemen, with the Houthis releasing footage claiming to show the drone being targeted by a surface-to-air missile in Marib province. This incident marked the third drone downing in the region this month.

    Earlier this week, a Marshall Islands-flagged, Greek-owned ship was twice hit by missile attacks in the Red Sea near Yemen. Although no group claimed responsibility, the Houthis are suspected due to their recent pattern of targeting shipping in the region.

    This marks the fifth joint operation by U.S. and British forces against Houthi military sites since January 12. The U.S. has also been conducting near-daily strikes to intercept Houthi missiles and drones aimed at commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, areas critical for global shipping routes.

    U.S. F/A-18 fighter jets launched from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, an aircraft carrier stationed in the Red Sea, played a central role in the recent strikes. Other U.S. warships in the region also participated in the operation.

    The Houthis have intensified their attacks on shipping in response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, demanding an end to the war that has resulted in over 36,000 Palestinian deaths since it began following a Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7.

    The U.S. Maritime Administration reports that the Houthis have carried out more than 50 attacks on shipping since November, seizing one vessel and sinking another, leading to a decline in maritime traffic through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden due to the rising threat.

    Despite repeated warnings from U.S. President Joe Biden and other leaders, the Houthi campaign against international shipping has persisted. On May 30, U.K. forces joined the U.S. in a joint operation targeting Houthi military facilities to curb their attacks on commercial vessels. The operation targeted facilities near Hudaydah and Ghulayfiqah, identified as key sites for Houthi drone operations and missile control.

    Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4 jets carried out precise nighttime strikes using Paveway IV guided bombs, with air refueling support from RAF Voyager tankers. The mission aimed to minimize civilian casualties and damage to non-military infrastructure, underscoring the careful planning involved in the operation, said a press release.

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