The White House emphasized on Monday that the attacks were effective.
January 22, 2024, 5:46 p.m. ET
• 5 minutes reading
The US and Britain carried out airstrikes against eight targets in Yemen on Monday to stop Iran-backed Houthi fighters from attacking ships in the Red Sea.
The White House has insisted the retaliatory airstrikes – seven shots so far – have been effective despite repeated Houthi attacks.
“Today, the militaries of the United States and the United Kingdom, at the direction of their respective governments and with the support of Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands, conducted an additional round of proportionate and necessary strikes against eight Houthi targets in Yemen in response to the ongoing “Houthis attacks on international, commercial and naval vessels transiting the Red Sea,” said a joint statement from the nations involved in Monday’s airstrikes.
“These precision strikes are aimed at disrupting and weakening the Houthis' capabilities to threaten global trade and the lives of innocent seafarers, and are in response to a series of illegal, dangerous and destabilizing Houthi actions since our coalition's attacks on “January 11,” including attacks with anti-ship ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial systems that struck two U.S. merchant vessels,” the statement continued.
“Today’s attack specifically targeted a Houthi underground camp and locations associated with Houthi missile and air surveillance capabilities,” the statement said.
Houthi fighters march during a rally in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and against U.S. attacks on Yemen outside Sanaa on Jan. 22, 2024. AP
The statement made clear that the countries involved in Monday's strikes remain focused on de-escalating tensions and restoring stability in the region, but warned: “We will not hesitate to protect lives and the free flow of trade at one of the most critical times “To defend the world's waterways.”
Monday's joint airstrike with the United Kingdom was similar to the first night of airstrikes on Jan. 11 that targeted 28 Houthi sites linked to Houthi attacks on commercial shipping routes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Since then, the US had carried out five small airstrikes against Houthi missile sites that were being prepared for imminent launches against merchant vessels or US Navy vessels.
This photo provided by the Indian Navy shows the U.S. ship Genco Picardy that was attacked on Wednesday by a bomb-carrying drone launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Gulf of Aden, January 18, 2024. Indian Navy via AP
But the Houthis were not deterred from continuing to fire missiles and drones at merchant ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, resulting in more than 30 attacks since mid-November.
Last week, Houthi attacks hit two U.S. ships, causing minor damage to the ships but no injuries.
This photo provided by the Indian Navy shows the U.S. ship Genco Picardy that was attacked on Wednesday by a bomb-carrying drone launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Gulf of Aden, January 18, 2024. Indian Navy via AP
Earlier on Monday, President Joe Biden spoke by phone with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to discuss the Houthi threat to commercial shipping in the region.
“They reaffirmed their commitment to freedom of navigation, international trade and the protection of seafarers from illegal and unjustified attacks,” the White House said in a readout of their call.
Their conversation also discussed “the importance of increasing humanitarian assistance and civilian protection for the people of Gaza and ensuring the release of hostages held by Hamas.” The President and Prime Minister also reiterated their support for Ukraine as it resists Russia's ongoing aggression. “