US and UK conduct airstrikes against the Houthis

The US and the UK conducted strikes overnight in four Houthi-controlled governorates, including Hodeidah, and Sana’a with the West deciding it could no longer accept the risk to global trade posed by all the attacks that have taken place in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden over the past two months.

US president Joe Biden issued a statement, confirming: “US military forces—together with the UK and 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.” 

The US and UK deployed airplanes and cruise missiles aimed at radar installations and storage and launch sites for drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles in the wake of a 27th attack on merchant shipping yesterday.

UK prime minister Rishi Sunak said the attacks were “necessary and proportionate”.

“Despite the repeated warnings from the international community, the Houthis have continued to carry out attacks in the Red Sea,” Sunak said in a statement.

“We have therefore taken limited, necessary and proportionate action in self-defence, alongside the United States… to degrade Houthi military capabilities and protect global shipping,” he said.

Ahead of the attacks, the leader of the Houthi movement warned: “Whoever wants to get involved and attack our dear people and target the naval forces is risking his navigation and commercial ships.”