United States Military Keeps Heat on Yemen with Latest Strike in Line with Biden’s Pledge
The United States launched a second strike against Yemen’s Houthi troops on Friday as part of ongoing efforts to safeguard ships in the Red Sea.
Following scores of US and British raids on Houthi infrastructure the day before, two unnamed sources revealed that the hit was directed towards a radar site. A key component of the US military’s plan to counter Houthi attacks in the Red Sea has been radar installations.
According to Al-Masirah, the television channel associated with the Houthi movement, there were reports indicating that military operations conducted by the United States and the United Kingdom were underway in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa.
The strikes come amidst rising concerns about a widening regional conflict, with US and British warplanes, ships, and submarines launching missiles against Houthi-controlled targets across Yemen.
President Joe Biden, expressing concern over Houthi attacks on merchant and military vessels in crucial waterways, warned of potential further strikes if such actions persist. Witnesses reported explosions near military bases in Sanaa, Taiz, Hodeidah, and the coastal Hajjah governorate.
International Support for United States-led Strikes
White House spokesperson John Kirby clarified that the strikes aimed to diminish the Houthis’ ability to store, launch, and guide missiles or drones, which they have used to threaten Red Sea shipping. The Pentagon claimed that the assault reduced the Houthis’ capacity to launch fresh attacks, targeting 60 sites in 28 locations.
President Biden stated that he believed the Houthis to be terrorists even though the US had removed them from the State Department’s list of foreign terrorist organizations in 2021.
The recent strikes garnered support from some allies, including the Netherlands, Australia, Canada, and Bahrain, while Germany, Denmark, New Zealand, and South Korea backed the attacks through a joint statement. However, Italy, Spain, and France chose not to participate, fearing a broader escalation.
Iran, accused by a senior United States official of providing military capabilities and intelligence to the Houthis, condemned the strikes. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian called on the White House to halt its all-out military and security cooperation with Israel for regional security.
Houthi attacks have already disrupted global shipping, forcing vessels to take longer routes and raising concerns about inflation and supply chain disruptions. Container shipping rates for key global routes have surged in response to the escalating tensions.
