U.S.-British coalition forces carried out new strikes on 18 Houthi targets in Yemen on Saturday, countering weeks of attacks on ships in the Red Sea by Iran-backed rebels.
“Targets were attacked across eight locations in Yemen, including weapons storage facilities, attack drones, air defense systems, radars and helicopters,” the joint statement said. saw AFP news agency reported.
The agreement, co-signed by Australia, Bahrain, Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands and New Zealand, marks the second and fourth new attacks this month since rebels began attacks on shipping in the region. expressed unspecified “support” for the attack. , AFP report details.
“More than 45 attacks by the Houthis on commercial and naval vessels since mid-November pose a threat to the global economy and regional security and stability, and require an international response,” the statement said. said.
Crew abandons ship ‘sunk’ by Houthi missile attackhttps://t.co/Pp6IWX7GgB
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) February 19, 2024
Houthi-run Al-Masira TV reported “a series of attacks on the capital Sanaa,” while an AFP correspondent in the rebel-held city in western Yemen said he heard several loud bangs. .
Pentagon Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a separate statement that the air raids were necessary to keep one of the world’s busiest waterways free to commercial navigation.
The United States will not hesitate to take action as necessary to protect lives and free commerce in one of the world’s most important waterways.
We urge the Houthis to stop their illegal attacks that damage the Middle East’s economy, cause environmental destruction, and disrupt the delivery of humanitarian aid to Yemen and other countries, or they will bear the consequences. We will continue to clarify what will happen.
The British Ministry of Defense said on Saturday that 44 Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR aircraft targeted “several very long-range unmanned aircraft used by the Houthis for both reconnaissance and attack missions” at a scene northeast of Sanaa.
A photo of a handout published by the UK Ministry of Defense (MOD) on February 24, 2024 shows a Paveway IV weapon being loaded by weapons technicians at Akrotiri Air Base in Cyprus in preparation for an attack on military targets in Yemen. A Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4 is shown. February 22, 2024. (Tim Lawrence/MOD/AFP)
Smoke rises from the spot where the US and UK launched airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, on February 24, 2024. (Photo by: Mohammed Hamoud/Anadolu, Getty Images)
Saturday’s operation followed attacks on several commercial ships in the region this week, including a ship carrying fertilizer. RubimarA few days ago, a ship crashed and the crew abandoned ship and began taking on water.
