Posted on 01/11/24
| News Source: The Hill
President Biden announced the U.S. and the U.K. conducted a spate of retaliatory strikes Thursday against the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
“Today, at my direction, U.S. military forces—together with the United Kingdom and with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands—successfully conducted strikes against a number of targets in Yemen used by Houthi rebels to endanger freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most vital waterways,” Biden said in a statement.
Biden said the strikes were “in direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks” in the Red Sea, adding that the attacks threatened U.S. personnel, civilians and trade in the region.
“Today’s defensive action follows this extensive diplomatic campaign and Houthi rebels’ escalating attacks against commercial vessels,” he said. “These targeted strikes are a clear message that the United States and our partners will not tolerate attacks on our personnel or allow hostile actors to imperil freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most critical commercial routes.”
“I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary,” Biden said.
The Associated Press reported that Washington and London bombed more than a dozen sites in Yemen used by the Iranian-backed Houthis.
U.S. and U.K. forces hit targets with Tomahawk missiles fired by warships and missiles from fighter jets, according to The Associated Press, targeting logistical hubs, supply facilities and air defense systems.
The strike is the first time the U.S. has carried out direct, offensive military action against the Houthis since the rebel group began attacking merchant ships in the Red Sea in late November.