US and UK Launch Strikes on Houthis in Yemen Amid Escalating Tensions

The United States and the United Kingdom carried out a series of air raids on Sunday, targeting key Houthi weapons facilities in Yemen, including sites in the capital, Sanaa, and the Amran governorate. According to reports from Al Masirah TV, the Houthi-run news outlet, at least nine strikes were carried out on Sanaa and its surrounding areas.

US defense officials confirmed the attacks, stating that the strikes targeted weapons facilities used by the Houthi rebels to launch attacks on international shipping vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. These facilities reportedly housed advanced conventional weapons that had been used to threaten global maritime trade routes.

Houthi Media Reacts to the Raids

Houthi media and local residents described the raids as intense, with eyewitnesses reporting explosions across different parts of Sanaa. Al Masirah TV also claimed that the airstrikes were part of an ongoing escalation in the region.

Background on the Houthi Attacks

The Houthis, an Iran-aligned militant group that controls parts of Yemen, have been involved in a series of attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea since late 2023. These attacks are believed to be in solidarity with Palestinian militants in Gaza, as the Houthi leadership has expressed its support for Hamas in the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.

The attacks on shipping vessels have caused significant disruption to global trade, with ship owners opting to reroute vessels away from the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. Instead, they are taking longer detours around the southern tip of Africa to avoid potential threats in the region.

US and UK Response

In response to these attacks, both the United States and the United Kingdom have launched retaliatory air strikes against Houthi positions. These strikes are seen as part of a broader effort by Western powers to counter the growing threat posed by the Houthis to global shipping routes.