US, UK launch retaliatory strikes against Houthis in Yemen

The United States and Britain on Thursday carried out a series of retaliatory strikes against Yemen's Houthi rebels, President Biden announced Thursday evening.

“Today, at my direction, the U.S. military, in cooperation with the United Kingdom, and with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, will continue to operate within Yemen, which the Houthi rebels have used to endanger freedom of navigation in Yemen. “We successfully attacked numerous targets in one of the world's most important waterways,” Biden said in a statement.

Biden added that the attack was “a direct response to the unprecedented Houthi attack” in the Red Sea, which threatens U.S. military personnel, civilians and trade in the region.

“Today's defensive actions follow this major diplomatic campaign and the escalation of attacks by Houthi rebels against commercial vessels,” he said. “These targeted attacks demonstrate that the United States and our partners will not tolerate attacks on American personnel or allow adversaries to jeopardize freedom of navigation in one of the world's most important commercial shipping lanes. It's a clear message.”

“I will not hesitate to direct further action as necessary to protect our people and the freedom of international commerce,” Biden said.

The Associated Press reported that Washington and London have bombed more than a dozen locations in Yemen used by the Iranian-backed Houthis.

According to the Associated Press, the U.S. and British militaries are attacking targets with Tomahawk missiles fired from warships and missiles from fighter jets, targeting logistics hubs, supply facilities and air defense systems.

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The airstrikes are the first direct offensive military action by the United States against the Houthis since the rebels began attacking merchant ships in the Red Sea in late November.

The United States had refrained from attacking Yemen's Houthis until Thursday. The U.S. government established a multinational maritime task force last month to protect commercial shipping, but the Houthis have continued to attack ships and the task force has vowed not to stop them.

Earlier this week, the Houthis targeted commercial ships and U.S. and British ships in their largest ever drone and missile attack. In this attack, the U.S.-British coalition forces shot down approximately 21 missiles and drones.

An attack in Yemen is likely to provoke both the Houthis and Iran, potentially leading to a wider war. The Middle East has been plagued by widespread conflict, including more than 100 attacks on U.S. forces in Syria and Iraq since the Israeli-Hamas war broke out in the Gaza Strip in early October.

Iranian-backed groups claim to be in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip by attacking the United States in the area. The Houthis say they are specifically targeting Israeli-based ships and boats heading to Israel.

Iran views the Houthis as one of the most valuable proxies in the Middle East and is likely to express anger over Thursday's airstrikes in Yemen. When the United States sank three Houthi ships in the Red Sea in late December, Iran and the Houthis reacted furiously.

The Biden administration faces immense pressure to thwart the Houthi offensive in the Red Sea, which has disrupted global trade. About 10% of commercial shipping transits through the Red Sea, and pressure from the Houthis has forced major shipping companies to reroute routes through Africa and the Cape of Good Hope.

Washington also faces questions about whether special forces will deter the Houthis and protect transport ships, and whether offensive strikes are needed to deter the Houthis.

It is unclear how much impact the airstrike had on Houthi targets in Yemen. The rebel group is a veteran group that has been fighting the Yemeni government for years, but would likely be extremely vulnerable to joint US-UK military action.

The Hill's Lauren Sforza contributed to this report.