- U.S. and U.K. conduct joint airstrikes on Iranian-backed Houthi targets in Yemen following drone strike on Jordanian base that killed three U.S. service members.
- Strikes target Houthi facilities to de-escalate tensions, defend international shipping and naval vessels, and restore stability in the Red Sea.
- Houthi attacks disrupt international shipping routes, leading to higher oil prices and product shortages. Biden administration designates Houthis as a “specially designated global terrorist group.”
Additional Coverage:
U.S. and U.K. military forces conducted joint airstrikes on Iranian-backed Houthi targets in Yemen on Saturday night. These strikes come as a response to the drone strike on a Jordanian base that killed three U.S. service members. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that this action sends a message to the Houthis to end their illegal attacks on international shipping and naval vessels. Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand also provided support in the airstrikes.
The strikes targeted 36 Houthi facilities at 13 locations in Yemen, focusing on weapons storage, air defense, missile, and radar systems. The objective is to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea while defending lives and the free flow of commerce in the region. Since Friday’s U.S. strikes in Iraq and Syria, there has been one attack on U.S. forces, but no injuries or damage were reported. Iranian-backed groups have launched 167 attacks on U.S. forces in the region since October 2021.
In addition to the airstrikes, there were self-defense strikes on Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles being prepared for launch against ships in the Red Sea. This is the third time the U.S. and U.K. have participated in joint airstrikes since January 11 as a response to Houthi attacks on commercial and naval vessels. The Houthis initiated these attacks in solidarity with Hamas militants and as retaliation against Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
The Houthi attacks have severely affected international shipping routes. BP halted oil shipments through the Red Sea, leading to higher oil prices. Ikea warned of possible product shortages, and Carnival rerouted 12 cruise ships to avoid the Red Sea. Last month, the Biden administration designated the Houthis as a “specially designated global terrorist group,” overturning a previous decision by the State Department in February 2021.
The image shows a soldier of the Iran-backed Houthi militia participating in a demonstration against the U.S. and Israel in Yemen.