US and UK launch new wave of strikes on Houthis over continued Red Sea attacks
- The 18 targets at 8 locations in Yemen included weapons and missile storage facilities, air defence systems, radars and a helicopter
- The Iran-backed rebels have attacked over 45 commercial and naval vessels in the region since mid-November
American and British forces carried out a fresh wave of strikes on Saturday against 18 Houthi targets in Yemen, a joint statement said, following weeks of unrelenting attacks on Red Sea shipping by the Iran-backed rebels.
The strikes “specifically targeted 18 Houthi targets across eight locations in Yemen associated with Houthi underground weapons storage facilities, missile storage facilities, one-way attack unmanned aerial systems, air defence systems, radars and a helicopter”, the joint statement said.
The statement was co-signed by Australia, Bahrain, Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands and New Zealand, who gave unspecified “support” to the new round of strikes, the second this month and fourth since the rebels began their attacks on ships in the region.
“The Houthis’ now more than 45 attacks on commercial and naval vessels since mid-November constitute a threat to the global economy, as well as regional security and stability, and demand an international response,” the statement said.
Saturday’s operation comes after several merchant vessels were struck in a week in the region, including the fertiliser-filled Rubymar, whose crew had to abandon ship after it was hit on Sunday and began taking on water.