Yemen is on high alert as the Houthi rebel group, closely aligned with Iran, warns of strong retaliation if the United States proceeds with bombing operations in the region. The group, currently engaged in attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea in response to Israel’s actions in Gaza, asserts that any aggression against them will lead to a potentially dangerous escalation.
Nasreddin Amer, a representative of Ansar Allah (Houthis), conveyed this message to Newsweek on Thursday, January 11, 2024. Amer emphasized that the reported airstrikes by the United States and the United Kingdom in Yemen lack justification and are seen as supporting Israel’s oppression of Palestinians.
U.S. President Joe Biden confirmed a joint operation with the U.K., Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, stating that the strikes aimed at Houthi rebel targets were a response to unprecedented attacks on international maritime vessels in the Red Sea. The attacks, including the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles, posed a threat to freedom of navigation and jeopardized the safety of U.S. personnel, civilian mariners, and partners.
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President Biden stressed the commitment to protecting people and ensuring the free flow of international commerce. He expressed readiness for additional measures if needed. A U.S. defense official informed Newsweek that the operation involved piloted aircraft from both the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force, utilizing platforms in the air, on the surface, and beneath the surface.
Multilateral action targeted various Houthi capabilities, including air defense, radar systems, UAS storage, cruise missile sites, and ballistic missile sites. The goal is to hinder the Houthi’s ability to engage in future malign activities.
A high-ranking U.S. military official clarified that the strikes aimed to eliminate the Houthis’ capacity to threaten maritime vessels in strategic waterways, such as the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb, and Gulf of Aden. The involvement of U.K. fighter jets in the operation was also reported.
Despite the anticipation of potential Houthi retaliation, a senior administration official expressed expectations that recent actions against the group would weaken their capabilities. The official dismissed Ansar Allah’s link between its maritime campaign and the Gaza war as baseless and refuted Houthi claims of targeting Israeli-related ships, emphasizing indiscriminate attacks on vessels with global ties in international waters.
The UN Security Council passed a resolution urging an immediate halt to Ansar Allah’s actions in the Red Sea. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had previously warned of consequences after the Houthis’ significant missile and drone attack on merchant vessels.
In response to the threats on Red Sea shipping by the Houthi rebels, U.S. and U.K. warships, part of a coalition, deployed to the region and intercepted projectiles in line with a mission established a month earlier.
The situation remains complex, with ongoing tensions in the region, a history of conflicts involving Ansar Allah, and Iran denying direct military aid. In the midst of these developments, Hamas has condemned the strikes, alleging ties to the ‘Axis of Resistance.’
