A report from the Daily Mail on Friday, January 12, 2024, President Joe Biden asserted the success of recent American airstrikes targeting Houthi rebels in Yemen, revealing that the military action also carried a message to Iran.
Speaking to reporters in Pennsylvania, Biden emphasized the absence of civilian casualties as a measure of success. The airstrikes were declared by the White House as a response to months of Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping, which the Iran-backed rebels justified as retaliation for the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Biden conveyed a clear message to Iran, stating, “I’ve already delivered the message to Iran,” and emphasized that Tehran does not desire war with the United States. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby defended the strikes, labeling them as responses to valid military targets. Kirby expressed the administration’s reluctance for conflict but warned of further action if Houthi attacks on American troops persisted.
The U.S.-led airstrikes, executed in collaboration with British forces, targeted Houthi rebels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The strikes resulted in at least five casualties, according to Houthi reports, while the U.S. claimed to have hit over 60 targets across 16 locations in Houthi-controlled areas.
Despite Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s involvement in the planning, criticism mounted over the decision to launch airstrikes without congressional approval. Democrats on Capitol Hill, particularly progressives, deemed the move unconstitutional, with calls for prior congressional authorization.
Turkey condemned the airstrikes, accusing the U.S. and the UK of turning the Red Sea into a “sea of blood.” Iran and Russia also criticized the military actions, deeming them illegal and escalatory. The Houthi rebels vowed retaliation, asserting that those behind the attacks would “pay a heavy price.”
In Yemen, mass protests erupted in support of the Houthi rebels, reflecting widespread discontent with the foreign intervention. Democratic progressives in Washington, including members of “The Squad,” expressed fury over the lack of congressional approval, deeming the strikes illegal and unconstitutional.
The War Powers Act of 1973 became a focal point in the debate, with Democrats arguing that the President should have sought authorization from Congress. Republicans welcomed the strikes, viewing them as overdue and indicative of a more assertive approach towards Iran.
Former President Donald Trump criticized Biden for focusing on the Middle East instead of addressing the migrant crisis at the U.S. southern border. Trump questioned the efficacy of the strikes and ridiculed Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s remote involvement from his hospital bed.
A senior administration official defended the decision not to seek congressional approval, stating that key congressional leaders had been notified. The official asserted that the military actions were consistent with international and domestic law, emphasizing the significant national interest at stake.
NATO supported the U.S.-led strikes, declaring them defensive measures to protect shipping through the Red Sea. The alliance urged Iran to rein in its proxies and emphasized the need for an end to Houthi attacks.
The airstrikes marked the first U.S. military intervention in Yemen since 2016. President Biden justified the action, citing unprecedented Houthi attacks on international shipping, affecting over 50 nations and leading to diversions causing shipping delays. The United Nations Security Council had recently passed a resolution demanding an end to Houthi attacks on merchant and commercial vessels.
