OAN's Brooke Mallory
5:27 PM – Thursday, January 11, 2024
The United States and Britain launched a series of retaliatory strikes against Yemen's Houthi rebels on Thursday.
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Bombs from Washington, D.C. and London hit more than a dozen locations in Yemen used by the Iranian-backed Houthis.
According to reports that have surfaced, the main cities in Yemen affected by US and British airstrikes were Sanaa, Hodeidah, Saada, Damar, Taiz, and Zabid.
Fighter jets and warships firing Tomahawk missiles were launched by U.S. and British aircraft attacking targets including air defense facilities, supply centers, and logistics hubs. Associated Press report.
The rebels began attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea in late November, and the US and UK took direct and aggressive military action against the Houthis.
The US has refrained from attacking Yemen's Houthis until Thursday this week. In an effort to protect commercial shipping, the United States last month established the Multilateral Maritime Commission. However, the Houthis continued to attack ships, and the task force declared they would not stop their attacks.
Earlier this week, the Houthis launched their largest drone and missile campaign to date, targeting commercial shipping along with U.S. and British warships. During the airstrike, the US and UK coalition shot down approximately 21 missiles and drones.
The attack in Yemen risks escalating into a major conflict and is expected to provoke the Houthis and Iran. Since the Israeli-Hamas war broke out in the Gaza Strip in early October, large-scale fighting has broken out across the region, with more than 100 attacks against U.S. troops in Syria and Iraq.
Iranian-backed groups say attacks on the United States in the area are an act of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. In particular, the Houthis say their targets are Israeli-backed boats and ships.
Iran is expected to express anger over Thursday's attack on Yemen, as it considers the Houthis to be one of its most valuable proxies in the Middle East. When the United States sank three Houthi ships in the Red Sea in late December, Iran and the Houthis vowed to retaliate violently.
The Biden administration is under tremendous pressure to halt Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, which are disrupting international trade. Major shipping companies are being forced to detour around Africa and the Cape of Good Hope due to pressure from the Houthis. Approximately 10% of commercial shipping passes through the Red Sea.
In addition, Washington, D.C. must decide whether to launch offensive operations to deter the Houthis, or whether the task force is sufficient to protect the cargo ship and deter the Houthis.
It is currently unclear how much the attack affected Houthi targets in Yemen. The rebel group has been fighting the Yemeni government for years and is well-versed in combat, but it is likely to still struggle in a joint U.S.-British military operation.
After the airstrike was carried out, Democratic Representative Valerie Howell issued a statement declaring that the airstrike was not authorized by Congress and that the president must obtain Congressional approval for any military attack.
This is a developing story. Please check the latest information.
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