Dubai, United Arab Emirates – A joint British-U.S. airstrike in Yemen targeted Houthi rebels, resulting in the deaths of at least 16 individuals and leaving 42 others wounded. The strikes were carried out in response to the rebels’ recent attacks on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
U.S. officials, who requested anonymity to discuss the operation, revealed that the strikes hit a variety of underground facilities, missile launchers, command and control centers, and a Houthi vessel. The airstrikes, carried out by U.S. F/A-18 fighter jets launched from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier in the Red Sea, aimed to deter further Houthi aggression in the region.
The Houthi rebels accused the British-U.S. coalition of targeting civilian areas in Yemen, including a building housing Hodeida Radio and civilians homes in the port city on the Red Sea. The rebel group claimed that the casualties from the strikes were primarily civilians, though independent verification was not immediately available.
Other areas in Yemen, such as outside of Sanaa near the airport and in Taiz, were also reportedly targeted in the airstrikes. Houthi officials condemned the attacks as an act of aggression against Yemen and vowed to retaliate against both the U.S. and U.K.
In response to the allegations, the U.K. Defense Ministry stated that Royal Air Force strikes were conducted in self-defense against Houthi threats, targeting drone ground control facilities and weapons storage sites in Yemen. This escalation in military activity comes as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to escalate in the region.
The Houthis have intensified their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, demanding an end to the Gaza conflict and targeting vessels carrying goods to Iran. The conflict has raised concerns about the safety and security of shipping lanes in the region, with both military and civilian vessels at risk of being caught in the crossfire.