At the beginning of this month, the U.S. and U.K. targeted around 30 locations in Yemen with more than 150 precision-guided munitions, along with the support of other countries like Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands. To retaliate against the Houthi attacks on commercial shipping, the U.S. has conducted eight rounds of airstrikes. It was done a day after the United Nations Security Council condemned “in the strongest terms” the rebel group’s attacks on Red Sea shipping and demanded they stop. It was done in an attempt to stop the group as it was targeting the southern Red Sea.
Houthis declared that the attacks were a response to Israel’s attack in Gaza, and they are showing their support for Palestinians.
“The targets included missile systems and launchers, air defense systems, radars, and deeply buried weapons storage facilities,” CENTCOM said. “Along with our US partners, we have conducted a further round of strikes in self-defense. Aimed at degrading Houthi capabilities, this action will deal another blow to their limited stockpiles and ability to threaten global trade.”Grant Shapps, the UK defense secretary, said.
The strikes were launched from air, surface, and subsurface platforms. The U.S. initially avoided striking the Houthis directly because the Biden administration was focusing on preventing Israel’s war with Hamas so that it doesn’t get converted into a bigger conflict. But apparently, the US decided it is necessary to conduct direct military action against Houthi targets.
Instead of sending their vessels on the longer route around the Cape of Good Hope, the World’s largest shipping companies have suspended operations in the region. Thereby slowing trade between Asia and Europe.
The UK government did not get the approval of parliament for the military action because the strikes were undertaken in self-defence. “The Yemeni Armed Forces affirm that retaliation against American and British attacks is inevitable, and any new aggression will not go unpunished,” the Houthi group said and was not told exactly where the attack took place or if any damage was caused.
Houthi Targets have been so far in the narrow strait of Bab el-Mandeb, targeting ships hailing to and from the Suez canal- a main channel for global maritime trade.
International efforts are being made to deal with this. An international task force called “Operation Prosperity Guardian,” including about 20 countries, will act as a highway patrol on the Red Sea, whose work will be to provide support to the commercial ships heading to different locations.
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