US and UK air strikes on Yemen
The United States and Britain have started carrying out strikes against targets linked to Houthis in Yemen, four US officials have told Reuters.
It’s the first time strikes have been launched against the Iran-backed group since it started targeting international shipping in the Red Sea late last year.
Associated Press is also reporting that US and British militaries have begun bombing sites used by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen in a massive retaliatory strike.
A Houthi official says ‘enemy’ raids on Sana’a are taking place, according to Reuters. A witness in Yemen’s Sana’a has also told Reuters three explosions have been heard.
Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi militants have stepped up attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea in protest against Israel’s war in Gaza. Various shipping lines have suspended operations, instead taking the longer journey around Africa.
The US military said the Houthis earlier on Thursday had staged their 27th attack on shipping since 19 November, firing an anti-ship ballistic missile into international shipping lanes in the Gulf of Aden.
Key events
US defence secretary Lloyd Austin has released a statement about the strikes – saying the US is prepared to take “follow-on” action to protect US forces, Reuters reports.
Today’s strikes targeted sites associated with the Houthis’ unmanned aerial vehicle, ballistic and cruise missile, and coastal radar and air surveillance capabilities …
The United States maintains its right to self-defence and, if necessary, we will take follow-on actions to protect US forces.
Austin is in hospital due to surgery complications.
Here’s the front page of the Guardian newspaper in the UK with the strikes against Yemen’s Houthis as the top headline:
US officials have been briefing reporters and say that no retaliatory action by the Houthis has occurred yet, Reuters reports.
But one official told reporters on a conference call they would not be surprised if there were a response:
While we fully expect this action to diminish the Houthis’ capability and degrade it, and certainly over time to reduce their capacity and propensity to conduct these attacks, we would not be surprised to see some sort of response
Saudi Arabia says it is monitoring situation with “great concern”
Saudi Arabia has reacted to the airstrikes on Yemen’s Houthis.
The kingdom’s foreign ministry has told Reuters news agency it is calling for restraint and “avoiding escalation” in light of the airstrikes launched by the United States and Britain.
The statement also says Saudi Arabia is closely monitoring the situation with “great concern”.
Ten countries involved in Yemen strikes
The White House has also issued a joint statement from the government’s of Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, United Kingdom, and the United States saying they will “not hesitate to defend lives and protect the free flow of commerce in one of the world’s most critical waterways”.
Here’s some of that statement:
In response to continued illegal, dangerous, and destabilizing Houthi attacks against vessels, including commercial shipping, transiting the Red Sea, the armed forces of the United States and United Kingdom, with support from the Netherlands, Canada, Bahrain, and Australia, conducted joint strikes in accordance with the inherent right of individual and collective self-defense, consistent with the UN Charter, against a number of targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. These precision strikes were intended to disrupt and degrade the capabilities the Houthis use to threaten global trade and the lives of international mariners in one of the world’s most critical waterways.
It goes on to say:
Today’s action demonstrated a shared commitment to freedom of navigation, international commerce, and defending the lives of mariners from illegal and unjustifiable attacks.
The statement ends on saying that the goal remains to “de-escalate’” tensions, but that the joint countries will also protect “lives” and the “free flow of commerce”:
Our aim remains to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea, but let our message be clear: we will not hesitate to defend lives and protect the free flow of commerce in one of the world’s most critical waterways in the face of continued threats.
Dan Sabbagh
The US and Britain launched air and missile strikes in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, aimed at halting attacks on ships in the Red Sea, Washington and London have announced.
Joe Biden, the US president, said American and British forces, with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands were involved in the overnight attack, which appeared to target a dozen sites in the country.
In a statement, he said: “These strikes are in direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks against international maritime vessels in the Red Sea – including the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles for the first time in history.
“These attacks have endangered US personnel, civilian mariners, and our partners, jeopardised trade, and threatened freedom of navigation.”
Biden also said he would be willing to authorise further attacks on Yemen if Houthi attacks on shipping did not stop. “I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary,” he said.
Minutes later, Rishi Sunak, the British prime minister confirmed UK participation. “We have therefore taken limited, necessary and proportionate action in self-defence, alongside the United States,” he said, “against targets tied to these attacks, to degrade Houthi military capabilities and protect global shipping.”
Read the rest of our defence and security editor Dan Sabbagh’s report here:
Here are some of the images released by the UK’s Ministry of Defence of the aircraft involved in the strikes:
UK’s Ministry of Defence say they think Houthis abilities “taken a blow”
The UK’s Ministry of Defence has also now issued a statement, which details the action including that “particular care was taken to minimise any risks to civilians” and that “early indications are that the Houthis’ ability to threaten merchant shipping has taken a blow”
Here’s that statement:
On 11 January, Royal Air Force aircraft joined coalition forces in striking a number of facilities used by the Houthi rebel faction in Yemen to attack shipping in the southern Red Sea.
The Royal Navy destroyer HMS Diamond has already been active alongside US and French warships in defending vital international shipping lanes against Houthi drones and missiles. Given the persistence of the Houthis in threatening merchant ships, several of which have already suffered damage, and the deliberate targeting of HMS Diamond and US Navy vessels on 9 January, coalition forces identified key facilities involved in these attacks, and agreed to conduct a carefully coordinated strike to reduce the Houthis’ capability to violate international law in this manner.
The statement goes on to detail the strikes:
Four RAF Typhoon FGR4s, supported by a Voyager air refuelling tanker therefore used Paveway IV guided bombs to conduct precision strikes on two of these Houthi facilities. One was a site at Bani in north-western Yemen used to launch reconnaissance and attack drones. A number of buildings involved in drone operations were targeted by our aircraft.
The other location struck by our aircraft was the airfield at Abbs. Intelligence has shown that it has been used to launch both cruise missiles and drones over the Red Sea. Several key targets at the airfield were identified and prosecuted by our aircraft.
The statement also refers to trying to limit civilian casualties, according to the MoD and an assessment on what the strikes have achieved:
In planning the strikes, particular care was taken to minimise any risks to civilians, and any such risks were mitigated further by the decision to conduct the strikes during the night. The detailed results of the strikes are being assessed, but early indications are that the Houthis’ ability to threaten merchant shipping has taken a blow, and our commitment to protecting the sea-lanes, through which some 15% of the world’s shipping passes and which is vital to the global economy, has been amply demonstrated.
UK prime minister Rishi Sunak comments on Yemen strikes
Britian’s prime minister Rishi Sunak has also released a statement on the military action, describing it as “limited, necessary and proportionate action in self-defence” and saying that the Netherlands, Canada and Bahrain offered “non-operational support”.
Here’s some of that statement:
The Royal Air Force has carried out targeted strikes against military facilities used by Houthi rebels in Yemen …
In recent months, the Houthi militia have carried out a series of dangerous and destabilising attacks against commercial shipping in the Red Sea, threatening UK and other international ships, causing major disruption to a vital trade route and driving up commodity prices. Their reckless actions are risking lives at sea and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
The statement goes on to say:
This cannot stand. The United Kingdom will always stand up for freedom of navigation and the free flow of trade. We have therefore taken limited, necessary and proportionate action in self-defence, alongside the United States with non-operational support from the Netherlands, Canada and Bahrain against targets tied to these attacks, to degrade Houthi military capabilities and protect global shipping.
The statement ends with a request that the Houthis take steps to “de-escalate”:
The Royal Navy continues to patrol the Red Sea as part of the multinational Operation Prosperity Guardian to deter further Houthi aggression, and we urge them to cease their attacks and take steps to de-escalate
Biden says Australia, Canada, Bahrain and Netherlands involved in strikes
US president Joe Biden has released a statement on the strikes – where he highlights the countries involved in the military action – including Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands:
He says:
Today, at my direction, U.S. military forces—together with the United Kingdom and with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands—successfully conducted strikes against a number of targets in Yemen used by Houthi rebels to endanger freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most vital waterways.
These strikes are in direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks against international maritime vessels in the Red Sea—including the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles for the first time in history.
He goes on to say in the statement:
Today’s defensive action follows this extensive diplomatic campaign and Houthi rebels’ escalating attacks against commercial vessels. These targeted strikes are a clear message that the United States and our partners will not tolerate attacks on our personnel or allow hostile actors to imperil freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most critical commercial routes. I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary.
Here’s a good explainer on the Houthis and what’s been happening in Yemen by Archie Bland and Bethan McKernan:
The US and UK have launched airstrikes on more than a dozen sites used by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen, according to US officials.
The strikes are the most significant military response against the Houthis’ persistent campaign of drone and missile attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, which began after Israel’s war in Gaza broke out. Here’s how we got here:
Who are the Houthis?
The Houthis are a Yemeni militia group named after their founder, Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi, and representing the Zaidi branch of Shia Islam. They emerged in the 1990s in opposition to Saudi Arabia’s religious influence in Yemen. The group, which has an estimated 20,000 fighters, runs most of the west of the country and is in charge of its Red Sea coastline.
Read the rest of that explainer here:
Associated Press journalists in Yemen’s capital, Sana’a say they heard four explosions early Friday local time but saw no sign of warplanes.
Two residents of Hodieda, Amin Ali Saleh and Hani Ahmed, said they heard five strong explosions. Hodieda lies on the Red Sea and is the largest port city controlled by the Houthis.
The Yemen Data project also posted a short time ago on X about strikes and where they have been reported:
Strikes reported in Hudaydah, Sana’a, Sa’ada and Taiz.
— Yemen Data Project (@YemenData) January 11, 2024
The US and British militaries have been bombing more than a dozen sites used by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen on Thursday, AP reports.
US officials have told the Associated Press that warship-launched Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets were used. The military targets included logistical hubs, air defense systems and weapons storage locations, they said.
Reuters is reporting that these strikes are believed to be the first the United States has carried out against the Houthis in Yemen since 2016.
Four US officials, speaking to Reuters on the condition of anonymity, say a formal statement is soon expected to detail the strikes.
Earlier on Thursday, the Houthi’s leader said any US attack on the group would not go without a response.
The Houthis, who seized much of Yemen in a civil war, have vowed to attack ships linked to Israel or bound for Israeli ports. However, many of the targeted ships have had no links to Israel. The Houthis say they have been targeting Red Sea shipping routes to show their support for Hamas in the Israel-Gaza war.
The attacks have disrupted international commerce on the key route between Europe and Asia that accounts for about 15% of the world’s shipping traffic.
The US and British militaries have used warship-launched Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets in the strikes, several US officials have told the Associated Press.
The military targets include logistical hubs, air defence systems and weapons storage locations, they said.
Associated Press says the US and Britian have bombed more than a dozen sites used by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen in what is described as a massive retaliatory strike.
The strikes mark the first US military response against the Houthis after a campaign of drone and missile attacks on commercial ships since the start of the war in Israel.
The coordinated military assault comes just a week after the White House and a host of partner nations issued a final warning to the Houthis to cease the attacks or face potential military action. The officials confirmed the strikes on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations.
An official from Yemen’s Houthis has commented on the bombings on X. Abdul Qader al-Mortada says:
American-Zionist-British aggression against Yemen launches several raids on the capital, Sanaa, Hodeidah governorate, Saada, and Dhamar
Reuters is reporting that the US and British strikes were carried out by aircraft, ships and submarines.
This is a breaking story and more details will come as they develop
