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| US and UK strike Houthi sites in Yemen in response to ‘unprecedented’ attacks | US and UK strike Houthi sites in Yemen in response to ‘unprecedented’ attacks |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Joe Biden says he ‘will not hesitate to direct further measures’ to protect international waterways in wake of attacks on Red Sea shipping | Joe Biden says he ‘will not hesitate to direct further measures’ to protect international waterways in wake of attacks on Red Sea shipping |
| 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. | 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, involving at least 60 targets in 16 locations around Yemen. | 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, involving at least 60 targets in 16 locations around Yemen. |
| In a statement, Biden 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. | In a statement, Biden 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.” | “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. | 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. |
| US Central Command said the overnight airstrikes targeted “radar systems, air defense systems, and storage and launch sites for one way attack unmanned aerial systems, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles”. | US Central Command said the overnight airstrikes targeted “radar systems, air defense systems, and storage and launch sites for one way attack unmanned aerial systems, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles”. |
| US Air Force Lt Gen Alex Grynkewich, said the US had “executed deliberate strikes on over 60 targets at 16 Iranian-backed Houthi militant locations, including command and control nodes, munitions depots, launching systems, production facilities and air defence radar systems.” | US Air Force Lt Gen Alex Grynkewich, said the US had “executed deliberate strikes on over 60 targets at 16 Iranian-backed Houthi militant locations, including command and control nodes, munitions depots, launching systems, production facilities and air defence radar systems.” |
| Houthi forces claimed to have instantly retaliated against western warships, but a senior US military official said late on Thursday night no Houthi response had so far materialised. | Houthi forces claimed to have instantly retaliated against western warships, but a senior US military official said late on Thursday night no Houthi response had so far materialised. |
| “As of right now, we have not seen any direct retaliatory action directed towards our US or other coalition members,” the US official said, adding: “We remain prepared of course to defend ourselves.” | |
| Houthis spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam said on Friday there was no justification for the strikes and vowed to continue targeting ships heading for Israel. | |
| Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani strongly condemned the military attacks on several cities in Yemen, saying: “We consider it a clear violation of Yemen’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a breach of international laws, regulations, and rights.” Lebanon’s powerful armed group Hezbollah also condemned the strikes. | |
| The western air strikes come at a time of significantly heightened tensions in the Middle East. Israel’s war in Gaza is now into its fourth month, while the country is also engaged in an increasingly violent exchanges of missile fire on its northern border with the Lebanese Hezbollah militia, who are backed by Iran. | The western air strikes come at a time of significantly heightened tensions in the Middle East. Israel’s war in Gaza is now into its fourth month, while the country is also engaged in an increasingly violent exchanges of missile fire on its northern border with the Lebanese Hezbollah militia, who are backed by Iran. |
| Rishi Sunak, the British prime minister confirmed UK participation in the strikes, saying, “We have … taken limited, necessary and proportionate action in self-defence, alongside the United States against targets tied to these attacks, to degrade Houthi military capabilities and protect global shipping.” | Rishi Sunak, the British prime minister confirmed UK participation in the strikes, saying, “We have … taken limited, necessary and proportionate action in self-defence, alongside the United States against targets tied to these attacks, to degrade Houthi military capabilities and protect global shipping.” |
| Initial reports suggested that around a dozen sites in Yemen had been targeted, using fighter jets from the US Navy, US Air Force and Royal Air Force, along with ship-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles, suggesting a broad assault intended to quickly deter the Houthis and make it harder to launch further attacks into the Red Sea. | Initial reports suggested that around a dozen sites in Yemen had been targeted, using fighter jets from the US Navy, US Air Force and Royal Air Force, along with ship-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles, suggesting a broad assault intended to quickly deter the Houthis and make it harder to launch further attacks into the Red Sea. |
| “This was a significant action and and conducted with the objective and every expectation that it will degrade in a significant way, the Houthis’ capability to launch exactly the sorts of attacks that they have conducted over the period of recent weeks,” a senior US administration official said. | “This was a significant action and and conducted with the objective and every expectation that it will degrade in a significant way, the Houthis’ capability to launch exactly the sorts of attacks that they have conducted over the period of recent weeks,” a senior US administration official said. |
| The Pentagon insisted that the nature of the strikes was intended to strictly limit civilian casualties. | The Pentagon insisted that the nature of the strikes was intended to strictly limit civilian casualties. |
| “These targets were very specifically selected for minimising the risk of collateral damage. We were absolutely not targeting civilian population centres. We were going after very specific capability and very specific locations with precision munitions,” a senior US military official said. | “These targets were very specifically selected for minimising the risk of collateral damage. We were absolutely not targeting civilian population centres. We were going after very specific capability and very specific locations with precision munitions,” a senior US military official said. |
| He stressed that the US-UK action was separate from the 22-nation naval coalition, Operation Prosperity Guardian, assembled to defend Red Sea shipping. | He stressed that the US-UK action was separate from the 22-nation naval coalition, Operation Prosperity Guardian, assembled to defend Red Sea shipping. |
| A Houthi campaign targeting shipping in the southern Red Sea area, in support of Hamas in Gaza, began in mid October, using missiles and drones designed in Iran. The Houthis, who have the support of Tehran, say they are targeting ships linked to Israel although in practice this has not always been the case. | A Houthi campaign targeting shipping in the southern Red Sea area, in support of Hamas in Gaza, began in mid October, using missiles and drones designed in Iran. The Houthis, who have the support of Tehran, say they are targeting ships linked to Israel although in practice this has not always been the case. |
| The US military said the Houthis have launched 27 attacks, with the last coming on Thursday, when the rebel group fired a cruise missile into shipping lanes in the Gulf of Aden, according to US Central Command. | The US military said the Houthis have launched 27 attacks, with the last coming on Thursday, when the rebel group fired a cruise missile into shipping lanes in the Gulf of Aden, according to US Central Command. |
| But a decision to launch a military response by the US and UK came after the Houthis launched a drone and missile attack aimed at a fleet of American and British warships in the southern Red Sea. The brazen nature of the attack led the US and the UK to warn on Wednesday “there will be consequences”. | But a decision to launch a military response by the US and UK came after the Houthis launched a drone and missile attack aimed at a fleet of American and British warships in the southern Red Sea. The brazen nature of the attack led the US and the UK to warn on Wednesday “there will be consequences”. |
| The US and the UK had deployed warships in the southern Red Sea region to protect commerce on one of the world’s busiest waterways. Vessels passing to and from the Suez Canal further north accounted for 15% of global seaborne trade before the Houthi attacks deterred many from travelling through the area. | The US and the UK had deployed warships in the southern Red Sea region to protect commerce on one of the world’s busiest waterways. Vessels passing to and from the Suez Canal further north accounted for 15% of global seaborne trade before the Houthi attacks deterred many from travelling through the area. |
| Britain’s Ministry of Defence said four RAF Typhoon fighters struck two targets in north-western Yemen using Paveway guided missiles. They were the airfield at Abbs, said to have been a launch site for Houthi cruise missiles and drones, and a site at Bani, said to have been used for reconnaissance and attack drones. | Britain’s Ministry of Defence said four RAF Typhoon fighters struck two targets in north-western Yemen using Paveway guided missiles. They were the airfield at Abbs, said to have been a launch site for Houthi cruise missiles and drones, and a site at Bani, said to have been used for reconnaissance and attack drones. |
| “Particular care was taken to minimise any risks to civilians,” the MoD said, and added that the results of the strikes was now being assessed. “Early indications are that the Houthis’ ability to threaten merchant shipping has taken a blow,” it added. | “Particular care was taken to minimise any risks to civilians,” the MoD said, and added that the results of the strikes was now being assessed. “Early indications are that the Houthis’ ability to threaten merchant shipping has taken a blow,” it added. |
| A Houthi official said that “American-Zionist-British aggression against Yemen” had seen raids launched on the capital, Sana’a, in the area of the port city of Hodeidah, and the cities of Saada and Dhamar. | A Houthi official said that “American-Zionist-British aggression against Yemen” had seen raids launched on the capital, Sana’a, in the area of the port city of Hodeidah, and the cities of Saada and Dhamar. |
| Witnesses in the Yemeni capital, Sann’a, told Reuters that they heard three loud explosions, although information was only gradually emerging and initial reports could not immediately be verified. | Witnesses in the Yemeni capital, Sann’a, told Reuters that they heard three loud explosions, although information was only gradually emerging and initial reports could not immediately be verified. |
| Earlier on Thursday the US said it had “to counter and defeat these threats that the Houthis keep throwing up” – while the leader of the Yemeni group, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, said it would respond with fresh assaults on western shipping if they came under attack. | Earlier on Thursday the US said it had “to counter and defeat these threats that the Houthis keep throwing up” – while the leader of the Yemeni group, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, said it would respond with fresh assaults on western shipping if they came under attack. |