Two U.S. officials confirmed to Fox News that the U.S. and Britain have launched a “massive retaliatory” offensive against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The 28 attacks against Houthi targets in Yemen also included sea routes, with support from the countries of Australia, the Netherlands, Bahrain and Canada.
President Joe Biden said he authorized the attack “in direct response to the unprecedented Houthi attack on international maritime shipping in the Red Sea, including the first-ever use of anti-ship ballistic missiles.”
He went on to say that the airstrikes were in response to more than 130 attacks by the Houthis against U.S. forces in the region.
Biden continued, “These targeted attacks are a sign that the United States and our partners are condoning attacks on our personnel or that hostile forces threaten freedom of navigation in one of the world's most important commercial shipping lanes.'' This is a clear message that we will not tolerate this.”
Abdel Malek Al Houthi. Leaders of the Houthi armed group issued a statement saying they would respond more forcefully to the attack.
“Any U.S. attack cannot go unresponsive,” he said, according to Fox News. “The response would be greater than an attack with 20 drones and numerous missiles.”
The war in Yemen is widely considered to be a proxy war between U.S. interests and Iranian interests. The United States previously sank four Houthi ships on New Year's Day after the insurgents spent weeks harassing and attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea.
“I will not hesitate to direct further action as necessary to protect our people and the freedom of international commerce,” Biden concluded.
Here are news reports about the attack:
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