US, UK launch airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen

America and Britain have launched strikes against targets connected to Houthi militants in Yemen in retaliation for attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, US President Joe Biden said early Friday.

In a statement, Biden said US military forces - together with the UK, with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands - "successfully conducted strikes against a number of targets in Yemen used by Houthi rebels to endanger freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most vital waterways".

"These strikes are in direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks against international maritime vessels in the Red Sea - including the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles for the first time in history."

"Today’s defensive action follows this extensive diplomatic campaign and Houthi rebels’ escalating attacks against commercial vessels. 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 in one of the world’s most critical commercial routes."

Biden added that he would not hesitate to "direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary".

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak followed Biden with a statement confirming the participation of the Royal Air Force.

US Central Command said the strikes targeted “radar systems, air defense systems, and storage and launch sites for one way attack unmanned aerial systems, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles”.

US Air Force Lt Gen Alex Grynkewich, said the US had “executed deliberate strikes on over 60 targets at 16 Iranian-backed Houthi militant locations, including command and control nodes, munitions depots, launching systems, production facilities and air defence radar systems.”

A Houthi official has confirmed on X, formerly Twitter, that attacks have been carried out throughout Yemen.

"American-Zionist-British aggression against Yemen launches several raids on the capital, Sanaa, Hudaydah governorate, Saada, and Dhamar," Houthi official Abdul Qader al-Mortada posted.

The Houthis claim they have been attacking only Israeli ships in support of the Islamic Hamas group which is currently at war with Israel. However, this has become a more tenuous claim in recent weeks, with major container companies such as Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd suspending journeys through the strategic Suez Canal route.

This has forced them to travel around the Cape of Good Hope, adding up to two weeks to some trips and millions of dollars in extra costs, stoking fears of inflation as goods are delayed and supply chains - just recovering from the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic - are disrupted.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com