The US and Britain have struck Houthi targets in Yemen
12 January, 2024 The United States and Great Britain struck Houthi targets in Yemen, January 2024. Photo from social media The United States and United Kingdom air forces and navy struck Houthi military targets in Yemen.
Strikes on the Iran-backed group are carried out in response to attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea, which intensified in late 2023. Americans attacked more than 60 targets in 16 locations of Yemeni Houthis, for which more than 100 precision-guided munitions of various types were used in the strikes. US President Joe Biden said that at his direction, the US military, along with the UK military, "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."
This operation was supported by Australia, Canada, the Netherlands and Bahrain.
Launch of a cruise missile from a US Navy destroyer, January 2024. Photo credits: CENTCOM
"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.
These attacks have endangered U.S. personnel, civilian mariners, and our partners, jeopardized trade, and threatened freedom of navigation," the White House said in a statement.
A fighter jet taking off from the deck of a US Navy aircraft carrier, January 2024. Photo credits: CENTCOM
More than 50 nations have been affected in 27 attacks on international commercial shipping, Biden said. Crews from more than 20 countries have been "threatened or taken hostage in acts of piracy."
The RAF carried out targeted strikes on military installations used by Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Takeoff of a Typhoon fighter of the Royal Air Force, January 2024. Photo credits: British Ministry of Defense
The UK prime minister Rishi Sunak also made a similar statement: "We have therefore taken limited, necessary and proportionate actions in self-defense, alongside the United States with non-operational support from the Netherlands, Canada and Bahrain against targets tied to these attacks, to degrade Houthi military capabilities and protect global shipping," the statement said. He officially confirmed the engagement of Royal Air Force aircrafts against targets in Yemen.
Four Typhoon multipurpose fighters were deployed and used Paveway IV laser-guided bombs to engage two targets.
Four @RoyalAirForce Typhoons have conducted precision strikes on two Houthi military targets alongside US forces. The threat to innocent lives and global trade has become so great that this action was not only necessary, it was our duty to protect vessels & freedom of navigation pic.twitter.com/tbN7ncJYpF -- Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) January 12, 2024
As specified, one of the facilities located in the village of Bani in northwestern Yemen, which was used to launch reconnaissance and strike drones.
The second facility that was hit was an airfield in the city of Abs. "Intelligence showed that it was used to launch both cruise missiles and drones towards the Red Sea," the British Defence Ministry said.
On Jan.
11 at 2:30 a.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command forces, in coordination with the United Kingdom, and support from Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, and Bahrain conducted joint strikes on Houthi targets to degrade their capability to continue their illegal and... pic.twitter.com/bR8biMolSx -- U.S.
Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 12, 2024
The Central Command of US Armed Forces reported that the US Navy used Tomahawk cruise missiles from surface ships and submarines for strikes.
US combat aviation was also involved.
60 targets in 16 locations in Yemen are reported having been hit.