In a joint effort, the United States and Great Britain initiated a heightened offensive against Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen on Monday. This move is part of a series of strikes aimed
at curbing the militants' capacity to disrupt international shipping routes in the Red Sea.
The coordinated strikes, hitting eight locations in Yemen around 4 p.m. Eastern Time, marked the most significant military action since the initial strikes carried out by U.S. and British forces on January 11. The operation involved U.S. Navy warplanes from the USS Eisenhower, along with Royal Air Force fighters. Additionally, ships and submarines launched Tomahawk land-attack missiles.
According to a senior military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the targets included an underground storage facility housing more advanced missiles than those previously destroyed in the initial strikes. The ongoing U.S.-led attacks have significantly weakened the Houthis' capability to target vessels in crucial shipping lanes.
The Houthis, who have executed over 30 such attacks since November, persist in their actions despite U.S. warnings and subsequent military responses. The rebel group claims to be responding to Israel's invasion of Gaza.
While the Biden administration initially sought to confine its involvement to the Gaza conflict, it finds itself increasingly entangled in clashes with Iranian-backed factions like the Houthis in Yemen, as well as militias that have targeted U.S. and allied bases in Iraq and Syria. Photo by yeowatzup, Wikimedia commons.
