The attacks by the United States and the United Kingdom provoke a strong reaction from the Houthis. We know this
A Western coalition aircraft takes off to carry out an attack on Houthi military targets in Yemen. (US Central Command via X/Handout via Portal)
The joint US and British attacks on Houthi targets on Thursday evening marked a dramatic escalation in the West's response to weeks of attacks on ships in the Red Sea.
They also provoked a harsh response from the Houthis, who quickly launched retaliatory attacks.
Here's what you need to know this Friday:
Houthis vow revenge: Houthi forces launched retaliatory attacks against American and British warships in the Red Sea after attacks by the US and its partners, a senior member of the group claimed early Friday. Meanwhile, the Houthi deputy foreign minister warned that the United States and the United Kingdom would face serious consequences for what he described as a blatant act of aggression.
Attacks in the USA and Great Britain: The US and British militaries launched strikes on Thursday against several Houthi targets in Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen. This was a strong response to warnings from the Biden administration and its allies that the Iran-backed militant group would face the consequences of repeated drone and missile attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the joint attacks were “intended to degrade and weaken the Houthis' ability to endanger sailors and jeopardize global trade.”
Multiple goals: U.S. and coalition forces have struck more than 60 Houthi targets in 16 locations in Yemen, said U.S. Air Force Central Commander Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich. These include the Houthis' unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned surface vessels, land-attack cruise missiles and coastal radar and air surveillance capabilities, Austin said in a statement. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the attacks were aimed at weakening the Houthis' military capabilities and protecting global shipping. The measures were taken with the support of Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands.
Five dead, Houthis say: Five people were killed and six others injured in the attacks, Houthi rebel military spokesman Yahya Sare'e said on Friday. The Houthi spokesman also said they would continue their attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea, calling the attacks “barbaric.”
Week-long attacks: The spate of Houthi attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea on Tuesday marked the final straw for Biden, a senior US official told CNN. Biden said he ordered the strikes “in direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks on international maritime vessels in the Red Sea.” The Houthis have been attacking commercial shipping in the region for weeks. “This kind of behavior cannot continue,” British Prime Minister Sunak said on Friday.
Regional tensions: Iran, which is believed to have armed and trained the Houthis, condemned the joint attacks, saying they violated international law and “the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Yemen” and warned they would fuel regional instability . Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia urged restraint in the Red Sea. There are fears that the Houthi attacks could escalate Israel's war against Hamas into a larger regional conflict.
Possible future attacks: The United Kingdom is currently not planning any new attacks, its government said on Friday. But the joint attacks on Houthi positions may not be the last against the Iran-backed group, a senior U.S. government official said, noting that further action may be needed to protect people and trade in the Red Sea. “This may not be the final word on this issue,” the official said.