News of War Staff Writer
UK and US Forces Intensify Strikes in Yemen Amid Rising Middle East Tensions
LONDON - In a significant operation, American and British forces have executed a new series of strikes this Monday in Yemen, aiming at a Houthi-controlled underground storage facility.
The strikes also targeted missile and surveillance systems employed by the Iran-backed group to threaten Red Sea shipping, as reported by the Pentagon.
The Houthis, wielding control over Yemen's most densely populated regions, have declared their assaults as acts of solidarity with the Palestinians, coinciding with Israel's military actions in Gaza.
These Houthi offensives have not only disrupted international maritime traffic but have also heightened fears of a worldwide inflation surge. Additionally, there is growing anxiety that the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas could further destabilise the already volatile Middle East.
In a recent coordinated response, US and UK forces launched attacks on eight distinct locations in Yemen. This operation saw collaboration from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, as confirmed by a joint statement from these six nations.
A high-ranking official from the US military, preferring to remain unnamed, indicated that approximately 25 to 30 munitions were deployed, some launched from aircrafts based on a US aircraft carrier.
Despite eight rounds of strikes over the past month, efforts to curb Houthi attacks on shipping lanes have yet to yield success.
Yahya Sarea, the military spokesperson for the Houthis, announced on Tuesday that the US-UK alliance had conducted 18 air raids: 12 in the capital Sanaa, three in Hodeidah's port city, two in Taiz, and one in the Al-Bayda province.
Sarea vowed a strong response to these assaults, stating, "These attacks will not go unanswered or unpunished."
US officials have acknowledged the strikes' effectiveness in diminishing the Houthis' capacity for complex operations, yet they have refrained from disclosing any precise figures regarding the destruction of missiles, radars, drones, or other military resources.
"The intended effect is being achieved," a US military representative assured Pentagon correspondents.
Following the recent strikes, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron expressed that these actions conveyed a firm message to the Houthis. "We will persist in reducing their capability to execute these attacks, reinforcing our statements and warnings with decisive actions," he affirmed.
President Joe Biden, acknowledging the continuation of air raids last week, admitted that they might not be fully deterring Houthi aggressions.
In a recent incident, the Houthis launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles at a US-owned tanker, missing the vessel but causing no harm or damage.
Biden's evolving strategy in Yemen seems focused on weakening Houthi militants without directly confronting their primary supporter, Iran. This approach, combining selective military strikes with sanctions, aims to penalise the Houthis while averting the risk of an expanded Middle East conflict.
The ongoing unrest has led to container ships either halting or rerouting from the Red Sea, a crucial passage to the Suez Canal and the most expedient trade route from Asia to Europe. Consequently, many vessels are opting for the longer journey around Africa.