WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States and Britain carried out 36 strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen over the weekend, the second wave of assaults aimed at disabling Iran-backed groups following the Israel-Hamas war. The strikes, conducted by U.S. warships and American and British fighter jets, were a response to relentless attacks on American and international interests by the Iran-backed militias.
The latest strikes follow an air assault in Iraq and Syria that targeted Iranian-backed militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in retaliation for a drone strike that killed three U.S. troops in Jordan. The U.S. and Britain launched the strikes to further disable the Houthis, who have been conducting almost daily missile or drone attacks against ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Despite pressure from the American and British campaign, the Houthis have made it clear that they have no intention of scaling back their campaign.
In response to the soldiers’ deaths at the Tower 22 base in Jordan, the U.S. warned that its response would not be limited to one night, one target, or one group. While there was no direct evidence linking the Houthis to the attack, they have been a prime adversary of the U.S. since the Israel-Hamas war, which resulted in thousands of casualties and hostages.
The strikes targeted sites associated with the Houthis’ weapons storage facilities, missile systems, and air defense systems. The U.S. has warned that this is likely not the last of its strikes, indicating that further consequences await the Houthis if they do not end their illegal attacks.
The U.S. and Britain have conducted a large joint operation to strike Houthi weapon launchers, radar sites, and drones, aiming to underscore the broader message to Iran that Washington holds Tehran responsible for arming, funding, and training an array of militias responsible for attacks across the Middle East.
The Houthis’ attacks have led shipping companies to reroute their vessels from the Red Sea, and the threats have led the U.S. and its allies to set up a joint mission to provide air defense for ships transiting the critical waterway from the Suez Canal to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
In Baghdad, a spokesperson for one of the main Iranian-backed militias in Iraq stated that every action elicits a reaction, but also expressed a desire to avoid escalating tensions in the region. Meanwhile, Iraqi officials have attempted to rein in the militias and have called for the exit of U.S. troops in the country.
The strikes in Yemen are part of a broader effort to address ongoing conflict in the region and to thwart the influence of Iran-backed groups in the Middle East. As the situation continues to unfold, the U.S. and its allies are focused on defending lives and ensuring the free flow of commerce in crucial waterways.