They used fighter jets and Tomahawk missiles fired from Navy ships to hit various areas.
Two US officials stated Thursday that the US and Britain conducted military attacks against Houthi-controlled Yemen.
They used fighter jets and Tomahawk missiles fired from Navy ships to hit various areas.
According to President Joe Biden, the strikes, which were backed by Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, targeted locations used by Houthi rebels to "endanger freedom of navigation in one of the world's most vital waterways."
"Today's defensive action follows this extensive diplomatic campaign and the Houthi rebels' escalating attacks against commercial vessels," Biden said Thursday evening in a statement. "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."
Biden also said he would "not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary."
Yemen's capital, Sanaa, has been targeted, according to a Houthi leader.
"A brutal aggression against our country, for which they will pay absolutely," stated Nasr Aldeen Amer, deputy president of the Houthi Media Authority, on Thursday. "Without hesitation, and we will not back down from our position in supporting the Palestinian people, whatever the cost."
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has asked the Houthi rebels to halt their offensive.
"Despite repeated warnings from the international community, the Houthis have continued to carry out attacks in the Red Sea," he said in a statement announcing the strikes on Thursday.
"This cannot continue. "The United Kingdom will always advocate for freedom of navigation and free trade," he said.
Sunak described the US and UK strikes as "limited, necessary, and proportionate self-defense action."
Why are Houthis attacking Yemen?
The Houthi rebels in Yemen are primarily driven by political and sectarian motivations. They seek greater influence, autonomy, and representation for their Shiite Zaidi community, while also opposing perceived marginalization and corruption in Yemen's government.
Are the Houthis Shia?
Yes, the Houthis are primarily Shia Muslims, specifically belonging to the Zaidi sect.
Has the UK bombed Yemen?
The UK has not directly bombed Yemen, but it has faced criticism for selling weapons to Saudi Arabia, which has been involved in the conflict in Yemen.
The US Central Command stated earlier Thursday that the Iranian-backed Houthis fired anti-ship ballistic missiles into international maritime routes in the Gulf of Aden from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen.
There were no injuries or property damage reported, and a commercial vessel reported witnessing the missile hit the water, according to the statement. The strike was the group's 27th on international vessels since November 19, according to Central Command.
The Houthis, from Yemen's northwestern Saada district, rose to power during the Arab Spring events in 2011.
Three years later, with Tehran's help, the Houthis took control of the country's capital, sparking a wider confrontation with Iran's regional foe, Saudi Arabia, and a scenario in Yemen dubbed by the UN as the "largest humanitarian crisis in the world."
Despite US, UK, and other countries' support for the Saudi-led war, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ended the military campaign last year and began peace talks with the Houthis.
Following Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, the Houthis pledged their support for the Palestinian militants and began attacking vessels in the Red Sea, despite US, French, and other Western partners' calls to halt the missile and drone attacks.
A Houthi official said that they were targeting only ships with ties to Israel — a claim that has been widely questioned — in order to put pressure on Israel to end its conflict in Gaza.
In response, the United States and other countries sent warships to patrol the critical commerce waterway. Last week, US helicopters fired on Houthis when they stormed a cargo ship.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday that the organization would face "consequences" if the assaults persisted, but that his "strong preference" was for the group to "get the message."
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