- United States and United Kingdom conduct second round of airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen in response to continued attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
- Houthis have not successfully launched an attack since January 18, weakened by US retaliatory strikes targeting missiles and air defenses.
- Biden administration initially prioritized preventing Israel-Hamas conflict escalation, but now sees direct military action against Houthi targets as necessary.
Additional Coverage:
The United States and the United Kingdom have conducted airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen for the second time this month, according to two US defense officials. The first round of strikes, with support from other countries, targeted nearly 30 locations using 150 different weapons. These strikes are in response to the Houthi group’s continued attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. The Iran-backed Houthis have launched over 30 attacks since November, leading some shipping companies to reroute their ships. Although no serious injuries have been reported, the attacks have disrupted maritime traffic.
Despite facing retaliatory strikes from the US and its allies, the Houthis have not successfully launched an attack since January 18. Last week, the US conducted five preemptive strikes, including two that targeted Houthi missiles as they were being prepared for launch. These strikes have weakened the Houthis’ air defenses, allowing for increased US surveillance over Yemen. The attacks on commercial ships were initially claimed by Houthi spokespeople as a protest against the war in Gaza. However, US officials have noted that many of the targeted ships have no connection to Israel or its conflict with Hamas.
The Biden administration had initially prioritized preventing the Israel-Hamas conflict from escalating further, which is why direct military action against the Houthis was avoided initially. In December, the Pentagon announced the establishment of an international task force called “Operation Prosperity Guardian,” consisting of about 20 countries, to patrol the Red Sea and provide support to commercial ships if necessary. While this international effort is still ongoing, the US has decided that direct military action against Houthi targets is necessary.