The U.S. and British militaries bombed more than a dozen sites used by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen on Thursday, in a massive retaliatory strike using warship- and submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets, U.S. officials said.
The Mideast command of the U.S. Air Force reported conducting airstrikes on more than 60 targets across 16 locations in Yemen. The targeted sites included “command-and-control nodes, munitions depots, launching systems, production facilities, and air defense radar systems.”
President Joe Biden explained that these strikes were intended to showcase the United States and its allies’ resolve in not tolerating the ongoing attacks by the militant group in the Red Sea region. He emphasized that the decision to engage in military action followed exhaustive attempts at diplomatic negotiations and careful consideration.
Biden stated in a release, “These strikes are a direct reaction to unprecedented Houthi assaults on international maritime vessels in the Red Sea, which notably involved the deployment of anti-ship ballistic missiles for the first time in history.” He highlighted the endangerment of U.S. personnel and civilian mariners, emphasizing the threat to trade. Additionally, he affirmed, “I will not hesitate to authorize additional actions to safeguard our people and ensure the unimpeded flow of international commerce as deemed necessary.” a dozen sites
In Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, Associated Press journalists reported four early morning explosions. Two Hodieda residents, Amin Ali Saleh and Hani Ahmed, mentioned hearing five powerful explosions in the western port area of the city. Hodieda, the largest port city controlled by the Houthis, lies on the Red Sea. Eyewitnesses also observed strikes in Taiz and Dhamar, cities south of Sanaa.
These airstrikes represent the first U.S. military response to a persistent campaign of drone and missile attacks on commercial ships, initiated during the Israel-Hamas war. The coordinated military assault follows a recent warning to the Houthis from the White House and partner nations, urging them to cease attacks or face potential military action. Members of Congress were briefed on the strike plans, disclosed by officials speaking anonymously to discuss military operations.
The warning briefly halted attacks, but on Tuesday, the Houthis launched their most substantial drone and missile barrage in the Red Sea. U.S. and British ships, along with American fighter jets, intercepted and destroyed 18 drones, two cruise missiles, and an anti-ship missile. On Thursday, the Houthis fired an anti-ship ballistic missile into the Gulf of Aden, spotted by a commercial ship but not causing any impact.