SANAA: Heavy US and British air strikes pounded targets in Yemen after weeks of attacks on shipping in Red Sea by Houthis forces acting in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

Houthis have carried out growing number of attacks on Israel-linked shipping in key international trade route since eruption of war in Gaza. Friday’s strikes targeted an airbase, airports and military camp, Houthi’s Al-Masirah TV station said, with AFP correspondents and witnesses also reporting they could hear bombardments.

“Our country was subjected to massive aggressive attack by American and British ships, submarines and warplanes,” Houthi Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Al-Ezzi said, according to official media.

“America and Britain will have to prepare to pay heavy price and bear all dire consequences of this blatant aggression,” he said. US President Joe Biden called US and British strikes “Defensive action” after Red Sea attacks and said he “Will not hesitate” to order further military action if needed.

Strikes involved fighter jets and Tomahawk missiles, US Air Forces Central Command said in statement. Sixty targets at 16 Houthi locations were hit by more than 100 precision-guided munitions, it said.

“Today, at my direction, US military forces together with United Kingdom and with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada and Netherlands successfully conducted strikes against number of targets in Yemen used by Houthi rebels to endanger freedom of navigation in one of world’s most vital waterways,” Biden said in statement.

Blaming Houthi for ignoring “Repeated warnings”, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in statement strikes were “Necessary and proportionate”.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said strikes “Targeted sites associated with Houthis’ unmanned aerial vehicle, ballistic and cruise missile and coastal radar and air surveillance capabilities”.

Joint statement by United States, Britain, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand and South Korea said “Aim remains to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in Red Sea”.

Houthis said there was “No justification” for air strikes and warned that attacks on Israel-linked shipping would continue. “No justification for this aggression against Yemen, as there was no threat to international navigation in Red and Arabian Seas and targeting was and will continue to affect Israeli ships or those heading to ports of occupied Palestine,” Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam posted on X.

“Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is following with great concern military operations,” foreign ministry statement said, calling for “Self-restraint and avoiding escalation”.

Published in The Daily National Courier, January, 13 2024

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