American and British military forces targeted Houthi rebel positions in Yemen on Thursday evening, January 11, in retaliation for attacks which have increased in recent weeks on ships in the Red Sea.
These strikes – which involved fighter jets and Tomahawk missiles according to American media – were carried out “successfully (…) against a number of targets in Yemen, used by the Houthi rebels to endanger freedom of navigation”explained, in a press release, the President of the United States, Joe Biden, who added that they had also been carried out with the ” support “ from Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands.
They “are a direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks on international maritime vessels in the Red Sea – including the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles for the first time in history,” said Joe Biden. “These attacks have endangered U.S. personnel, civilian mariners and our partners, jeopardized commerce and threatened freedom of navigation”he denounced.
“American aggression, with British participation” affected the cities of Sanaa, Hodeida and Saada, announced, for its part, Al-Massirah, the Houthi television channel.
“Restoring stability in the Red Sea”
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the strikes targeted radar and drone and missile infrastructure. “This operation aims to disrupt and degrade the Houthis’ ability to endanger sailors and threaten international trade in one of the world’s most important maritime passages”explained the head of the Pentagon in a press release.
Since the start of the war on October 7 between Israel and Hamas, the Houthis, who are close to Iran and control a large part of Yemen, have increased attacks, by missiles and drones, in the Red Sea, near the strait. strategic Bab el-Mandeb separating the Arabian Peninsula from Africa. They say they target commercial ships they suspect of being linked to Israel, claiming to act in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
“Despite repeated warnings from the international community, the Houthis have continued to carry out attacks in the Red Sea, again this week against British and American warshipsdeclared for his part, in a press release, the British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak. This cannot continue (…) We have therefore taken limited, necessary and proportionate measures in self-defense. »
“Our objective remains to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea”then affirmed a joint statement involving the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, and United Kingdom.
An “aggression”, denounce the Houthis
The US president explained that the United States and its allies only made this decision after attempts at diplomatic negotiations and extensive deliberations, and added that he “will not hesitate” has “order further measures” to protect America and international trade.
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“Our country faces a massive attack by American and British ships, submarines and aircraft”declared the Houthis’ deputy foreign minister, Hussein Al-Ezzi, quoted by rebel media. “The United States and Great Britain must prepare to pay a high price and bear the heavy consequences of this aggression”he threatened.
In response to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, the United States quickly deployed warships and set up an international coalition in December to protect maritime traffic in this area where 12% of world trade passes. Some shipowners are now bypassing the area, which has increased transport costs between Europe and Asia.
The leader of Yemen’s rebels, Abdel Malek Al-Houthi, threatened on Thursday to respond to any American attack in the Red Sea with further operations. “most important” than those, particularly heavy, dating from Tuesday. That day, British and American forces shot down eighteen drones and three missiles fired by the Houthis in the Red Sea, in what the British government called“most important attack” Yemeni rebels to this day.
” Enough is enough “
” Enough is enough. We must be clear with the Houthis that this must stop and that is my simple message to them today: get ready.”threatened British Defense Minister Grant Shapps on Wednesday. “There is no doubt that Iran is behind what is happening in the Red Sea”he added.
Rishi Sunak spoke on Thursday afternoon with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi. The head of the British government affirmed that “the UK would continue to take action to defend freedom of navigation and protect lives at sea”according to a Downing Street spokesperson.
The UN Security Council on Wednesday demanded a halt ” immediate “ Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea, calling on all states to respect the arms embargo targeting Yemeni rebels.
The Red Sea is not, far from it, the only hot spot in the region for the United States, which has firmly supported Israel since the bloody Hamas attack on October 7. Since October, American forces in Iraq and Syria have been attacked 130 times, according to the Pentagon.
The United States has around 2,500 troops in Iraq, and 900 in Syria, deployed with the aim of preventing a reconstitution of the jihadist group Islamic State. Last week, the leader of a pro-Iranian faction was killed in Baghdad by an American strike, which aroused the indignation of the Iraqi government, itself supported by parties close to Iran. The Iraqi prime minister later said his ” farm “ determination to put an end to the presence in Iraq of the international anti-jihadist coalition.