On Thursday, the U.S. and Britain conducted a military operation targeting 13 Houthi sites in Yemen. This action was taken in response to a series of attacks by the Iran-backed Houthi militia on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The operation involved American and British fighter jets, as well as U.S. ships, hitting various underground facilities, missile launchers, command and control sites, and a Houthi vessel.
Additionally, eight uncrewed aerial vehicles in Houthi-controlled areas were targeted due to the threat they posed to American and coalition forces. The strikes resulted in casualties, with at least two individuals killed and 10 others wounded in one of the attacks on a radio building in Hodeida.
These military actions followed the downing of a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone in Yemen by the Houthis, who claimed responsibility for the incident. The recent surge in Houthi attacks on shipping in the region has raised concerns, with over 50 attacks reported since November, leading to a decline in shipping activity in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
President Joe Biden and other leaders have reiterated that the U.S. will not tolerate these attacks on commercial shipping. Despite the counterattacks by the U.S. and its allies, the Houthi campaign against shipping in the region has persisted.
The U.S. and British militaries have conducted multiple joint operations against the Houthis since January, with daily strikes aimed at neutralizing incoming threats such as missiles and drones. The recent military actions underscore the ongoing tensions in the region and the efforts to safeguard maritime security in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
