In a concerted operation, American and British military units executed precision strikes across various locations within Yemen’s Houthi-controlled regions this past Thursday. The strategic operation was a direct response to the escalated Houthi attacks on global maritime vessels navigating through the Red Sea, as signified by the Biden administration and international partners.
President Joe Biden of the United States declared that he had sanctioned the offensive “to counter the Houthi aggression on international sea-bound trade in the Red Sea.”
“Under my guidance, the U.S. military, along with British forces and support from nations including Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, have successfully targeted numerous installations in Yemen utilized by the Houthi insurgents. These sites posed threats to the passage of freedom in one of the planet’s crucial maritime lanes,” President Biden elaborated in a White House dispatched communication.
President Biden expressed his resolve to take additional actions to ensure the safety of American individuals and the unfettered movement of international trade if required.
Over 60 specific targets at 16 sites regarded as Houthi militant hubs were struck by U.S.-led coalition forces, revealed Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, the Commander of the US Air Forces Central. These targets encompassed logistics command nodes, weapon stockpiles, launching pads, manufacturing units, and air defense systems.
Yahya Sare’e, a spokesman for the Houthi military, acknowledged that the assault led to five deaths and injured six individuals, emphasizing that such actions would not curb the Houthis’ continuous menacing of ships.
These assaults underscore the international community’s escalating concern over the security risks to a globally pivotal nautical corridor. Although the U.S. had previously refrained from overt engagement in Yemen due to fears of regional destabilization, as evidenced by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, the persistent Houthi onslaught necessitated decisive action.
Prior U.S. operations had targeted Iranian-affiliated factions in Iraq and Syria, but this represents the first confirmed offensive against Houthi forces in Yemen.
The coordinated strike involved advanced fighter jets and sea-launched Tomahawk missiles. Select targets were destroyed via coordinated launches from terrestrial, nautical, and submersible units, specifically chosen for their roles in enabling Houthi assaults in the Red Sea, according to the U.S.
An integral part of the operation was the USS Florida, a guided-missile submarine that had entered the Red Sea, as reported by a second U.S. official.
From RAF Akrotiri, a prominent British airbase located in Cyprus, a squadron of four British Typhoon jets was deployed on the same evening, as confirmed by a British governmental representative.
James Heappey, the UK’s junior armed forces minister, informed that the armada, inclusive of two Voyager air-to-air refueling tankers, achieved successful strikes on at least 14 intended sites.
“These jets flew to meet their American counterparts and targeted two Houthi-held Yemeni zones known for their role in drone and missile attacks,” Heappey said. No subsequent British military deployments are immediately anticipated as per his statement.
Rear-Admiral Emmanuel Slaars, commander of the French naval forces in the Red Sea, briefed journalists in Paris on the French naval force’s patrolling activities near Houthi operational areas.
According to Slaars, while French military forces are independent and not under American command, there exists an ongoing intelligence exchange and cooperation with American forces.
A high-ranking U.S. military officer conveyed to journalists that the percentage of Houthi capabilities dismantled by the operation was substantial, although precise figures were not divulged. The official underscored that precision-guided armaments were utilized not only to obliterate targets but to also minimize unavoidable collateral damage.
“We scrupulously avoided civilian populated areas,” the officer stated, “targeting only specific military capabilities, in precise locations, using smart munitions.”