US, UK Airstrikes on Yemen: Houthis Vow To Retaliate
Yemen’s Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, have pledged to retaliate against US and British airstrikes on their formations. The airstrikes were a response to increased Houthi attacks on international shipping routes in the Red Sea. Despite the international pressure, the Houthis have remained unwavering in their cause and have issued a promise of retaliation.
Airstrike Details
The US and UK, in intensified efforts, have conducted several sorties against Houthi military targets in Yemen. The UK foreign secretary has voiced censure against the Houthi insurgency, urging them to cease their activities. Simultaneously, Iran has rebuffed the airstrikes, stating that these actions are contradictory to these nations’ initial intentions of preventing a large-scale conflict in the Middle East.
Houthi Stance
Defiant in their stance, the Houthi rebels have vowed to escalate their activities in support of the people of Palestine in the Gaza Strip. The latest airstrikes, aimed at 36 Houthi encampments, seek to disrupt and weaken the militia’s operational capabilities. Despite the high-intensity targeting of the capital, Sanaa, and other key rebel-held areas with 48 airstrike missions, the Houthi military spokesperson maintained that these strikes would be met with a fitting response.
US and UK Strikes
With the objective of safeguarding American and international interests, the US and UK launched strikes against 36 Houthi targets in Yemen. These strikes focused on missile systems, launch pads, air defense installations, and radar facilities. In the wake of these actions, the Houthis have pledged continued military efforts against Israel and promised retaliation against the US and UK. The Biden administration hints this may not be the final offensive.
Conflict Escalation
Heralding a new escalation in conflict, the Houthi rebels have stated that joint US and UK airstrikes will not discourage their militia activities, signaling an intent of retaliation. These actions follow a series of aggressive moves by the Houthis in the Red Sea, targeting international commercial and naval vessels. Following the latest US drone strike in Jordan, which resulted in the loss of three soldiers, the US launched retaliatory strikes on multiple Iran-linked targets in Iraq and Syria, which now includes Houthi strongholds in Yemen.
US Defense Secretary On Houthi Attacks
Lloyd Austin, the US Defense Secretary, indicated the strikes aimed to disrupt and degrade the Houthi militia’s capabilities. By describing their actions as reckless and destabilizing, Austin justified the strikes as a necessity. With the specific locations targeted undisclosed, the Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, confirmed that Sana’a and other rebel-dominated areas were hit, with a total of 48 airstrikes carried out. Saree echoed the Houthi commitment to the Palestinian cause in Gaza and warned of reprisals in retaliation against the recent airstrikes.
