Anglo-American air and naval forces strike 16 Houthi rebel bases in Yemen

Last night British and American jets struck 16 Iran-backed Houthi rebel bases in Yemen in response to continued Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.

Targets in the capital Sanaa, the Houthi Red Sea port of Hudaydah, Dhamar and north-western Houthi stronghold of Saada were successfully engaged.

Royal Air Force Typhoon jets flying from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, supported by a Voyager air refuelling tanker, used Paveway IV bombs to hit 2 targets.

Bani, a site in north-western Yemen used to launch reconnaissance and attack drones was hit, with a number of buildings involved in drone operations being targeted.

Bani, a site in north-western Yemen used to launch reconnaissance and attack drones was hit, with a number of buildings involved in drone operations being targeted.

The second location struck by the RAF was the airfield at Abbs.

Intelligence has shown that it has been used to launch both cruise missiles and drones over the Red Sea. Several key targets at the airfield were identified and targeted by the aircraft.

“The detailed results of the strikes are being assessed, but early indications are that the Houthis’ ability to threaten merchant shipping has taken a blow, and our commitment to protecting the sea-lanes, through which some 15% of the world’s shipping passes and which is vital to the global economy, has been amply demonstrated,” the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

In addition to the multiple air strikes Cruise missiles were also fired from at least one submarine in the Red Sea.

“Over 100 precision-guided munitions of various types were used in the strikes. These strikes were comprised of coalition air and maritime strike and support assets from across the region…

“This multi-national strike reinforces the international community’s commitment to freedom of navigation and against repeated Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and cruise missiles attacks on commercial and U.S. and coalition military vessels in the Red Sea,” – U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich.

Australian forces also provided personnel who were embedded in the operational headquarters.

“That is completely central to Australia’s national interest. This decision was not taken lightly,” said deputy prime minister and defence minister, Richard Marles.

The Netherlands, Canada and Bahrain also provided support.

The governments of Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, United Kingdom, and the United States have issued a joint statement on the strikes.

Russia, which ironically condemned the strikes as a “violation of international law” has requested an urgent UN Security Council meeting for Friday in connection with the US-UK strikes on Yemen, the Russian Permanent Mission to the UN has reported.

Iran, the key backer of the Houthis, described the strikes as a clear violation of Yemeni sovereignty.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani called the strikes “an arbitrary action, a clear violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Yemen, and a violation of international laws and regulations.”

He warned that the attacks “will have no result other than fuelling insecurity and instability in the region” as well as “diverting the world’s attention from the crimes” in Gaza.

Iran’s main proxy force in the Middle East, Hezbollah in Lebanon, also condemned the strikes saying that it “confirms once again that the US is a full partner in the tragedies and massacres committed by the Zionist enemy in Gaza and the region.”

On January 10th, the UN Security Council passed UNSCR 2722, which condemned the Houthi attacks and demanded that they cease.

The resolution, which was adopted by a vote of 11 in favour to none against, with 4 abstentions (Algeria, China, Mozambique, Russia) took note of Member States’ right, in accordance with international law, to defend their vessels from attacks.

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Read also: UK & US defence secretaries Grant & Austin discuss Houthi attacks on international shipping

Secretary Austin noted that the Houthi attacks constitute a significant international problem that demands collective action.

 

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