Watch: US-UK Launch Strikes Against Houthis In the Red Sea

The US and UK, with extensive support from Canada, Australia, Bahrain, and the Netherlands, initiated targeted strikes against the military facilities that were used by the Houthi rebels of Yemen.

The action is meant to disrupt as well as degrade the Houthis’ capabilities to endanger the mariners and threaten worldwide trade in one of the world’s most crucial waterways. The coalition action sends out a clear warning to the Houthis that they are going to bear costs if they do not end the unlawful, illegal attacks, mentioned Lloyd J Austin III, the US Secretary of Defense.

The locations of the Houthis’ ballistic and cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, coastal radar, and air surveillance capabilities were targeted during the strikes.

Video Credits: AP/YouTube

Since November 19, Houthi rebels have targeted more than two warships in the Red Sea area. They have also continued to attempt offensives using drones and missiles, but ally forces have either thwarted these or have not succeeded in reaching their target. Even while the Houthis claim to be targeting vessels connected to Israel or those that trade with Israel, many of the strikes seem to be indiscriminate.

British PM Rishi Sunak said that despite repeated warnings from across the international community, the Houthis have kept on their attacks on the Red Sea, including against the UK and the US warships even this week. On January 9 2024, the US and the UK navies thwarted in the Red Sea what appeared to be the most significant attack by the Houthis to date. The incident witnessed one-way attack UAVs, one anti-ship ballistic missile, and two anti-ship cruise missiles being shot down. This cannot stand. The UK is always going to stand up for the free flow of trade and freedom of navigation.

Therefore, limited but necessary and proportionate actions in self-defence have been undertaken, alongside the US with non-operational support from Canada, Bahrain, and the Netherlands against targets linked to the attacks, to degrade Houthi military abilities and safeguard global shipping, per the UK PM.

To carry out targeted strikes on two Houthi installations, the British military utilized Paveway IV guided bombs and our RAF Typhoon FGR4s, backed by a Voyager air refuelling tanker. One was reportedly a site in northwest Yemen called Bani, where drones were utilized for attack drones and surveillance. At the same time, the other had been an airfield near the Red Sea that intelligence indicated was used for both drone and cruise missile launches.

While the particular results of the attacks are still being evaluated, preliminary indications suggest that the Houthis’ capacity to endanger commercial shipping has been weakened. The country’s commitment to safeguarding the sea lanes, which facilitate approximately 15% of global trade and are essential to the world’s economy, has been effectively presented, the Ministry of Defense in the UK stated.

Reference: Seatrade Maritime

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