US and UK forces attack Houthi targets in Yemen in retaliation for Red Sea attacks

12th January 2024

Report: US and UK forces strike on Houthi

President Joe Biden announced late Thursday that the United States and the United Kingdom had “successfully conducted strikes” against Houthi targets in Yemen. In response to a series of attacks that have hampered commercial shipping in the Red Sea, the US and its allies increased a conflict with an Iranian proxy by launching airstrikes on over a dozen Houthi rebel targets in Yemen.

James Heappey, the minister for the British Armed Forces, stated that the strikes were a proportionate response and that the government understood the need to prevent escalation in the area.

These targeted strikes are a clear message that United States and our partners will not tolerate attacks our personal or allow hostile actors to imperil freedom of navigation in of the world’s most critical commercial area a “statement by President Joe Biden”.

According to US officials commenting regarding operational details who asked not to be identified, American and British forces hit radar installations as well as drone, cruise missile, and ballistic missile storage and launch sites. The USS Eisenhower aircraft carrier was the base of operations for Air Force fighters and jets, and surface ships and submarines launched Tomahawk missiles that carried out the attacks. The strikes targeted key Houthi infrastructure and military installations known to be used for launching attacks on both Yemeni civilians and international shipping.

Geopolitical tensions have long been high in Yemen, which is situated at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. Due to the Houthi rebels’ alleged Iranian support, the region has become unstable, necessitating international intervention to maintain peace and protect important trade routes.

A senior administration official reported that on January 9, the Houthis fired several missiles and about 20 drones straight into American ships in the Red Sea. It was the biggest assault on Red Sea merchant vessels to date. The US and UK naval forces defeated this attack,” the senior administration official declared on Thursday.

Following the strikes in Yemen, the global crude oil benchmark Brent increased by nearly 2% to track the movement in West Texas Intermediate. In order to determine the situation’s long-term impact on crude oil prices, market analysts have emphasized how crucial it is to keep a close eye on it in the days ahead. Oil market volatility has increased as a result of traders and investors closely monitoring events in the Middle East due to concerns about supply disruptions.

In reaction to the military action, the international community has expressed a mixture of support and concern. In a statement, the Arab League backed the United States and the United Kingdom in their attempts to preserve important waterways and maintain regional stability. In the meantime, some countries have demanded that the conflict be resolved diplomatically and urged all sides to hold talks in order to come up with a long-term solution.