US and UK conduct airstrikes on 36 Houthi targets to halt ship attacks

Sana'a: The United States and Britain conducted airstrikes in Yemen targeting Houthi rebels, responding to ongoing attacks on international shipping.

In a joint statement, the US, Britain, and other supporting nations announced precision strikes on "36 Houthi targets across 13 locations in Yemen" as a countermeasure to the Houthi attacks on global trade routes and naval vessels in the Red Sea, reported AFP.

The strikes aimed to disrupt and degrade the Huthis' capabilities, focusing on their weapons storage facilities, missile systems, launchers, air defense systems, and radars.

Separately, US forces targeted six Houthi anti-ship missiles in the Red Sea, preventing their launch. Additionally, eight drones near Yemen were shot down, with four destroyed before launch, all linked to the Houthis.

The Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping, initiated in November, is targeting Israel-linked vessels in support of Palestinians in Gaza. In response, the US and UK conducted strikes against the Houthis, who then declared American and British interests as legitimate targets.

To safeguard global trade routes, the United States established a multinational naval task force, responsible for protecting the transit route handling up to 12% of global trade.

This action follows recent unilateral US strikes against Iran-linked sites in Iraq and Syria, a response to the killing of three US soldiers in Jordan on January 28.

The heightened tensions in the Middle East, exacerbated by Israel's Gaza campaign, have led to increased violence involving Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.

A drone attack in Jordan last weekend, resulting in the death of three US soldiers and over 40 injuries, was attributed to Iran-backed forces. In response, the US conducted strikes on alleged Tehran-linked facilities in Iraq and Syria.