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The US and Britain, with the help of several allies, have attacked Houthi positions in Yemen. What is known about the attacks.
That happened: The USA and Great Britain, with the support of allies, “successfully” attacked positions of the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen on Friday night. According to the US Department of Defense, the attacks on the Houthi bases took place from the air and sea. As US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement, the aim was to destroy drones, ballistic and cruise missiles, coastal radar and air surveillance of the rebels. In addition to the USA and Great Britain, Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands also took part in the military strike, said a high-ranking government official in Washington.
Response to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea: The military strike was a “direct response to the Houthis’ unprecedented attacks” on international shipping in the Red Sea, US President Joe Biden said in a written statement. He will not hesitate to order further measures if necessary.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also spoke of “targeted attacks”. “Despite repeated warnings from the international community, the Houthis have continued to carry out attacks in the Red Sea, including against British and American warships as recently as this week. This cannot be tolerated,” said a statement published by the British news agency PA.
Legend:
According to Washington, the Houthis have carried out more than two dozen attacks on international merchant ships in the Red Sea since November 19.
AP/Houthi Media Center
International merchant shipping in sight: Since the Gaza war broke out between Israel and the Islamist Hamas, the Houthis have repeatedly attacked ships with alleged Israeli connections in the Red Sea. Large shipping companies are increasingly avoiding the route. The Houthis also repeatedly attack Israel directly with drones and rockets. There had recently been increasing signs of a reaction from the USA, Great Britain and allies. Around ten percent of all world trade passes through the Red Sea. The Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean with the Red Sea, providing the shortest sea route between Asia and Europe. The alternative route around the South African Cape of Good Hope extends the transport by a few days.
Houthis announce retaliation: The Houthi rebels vowed revenge after the military strike and announced further attacks on ships in the Red Sea. “America and Britain will have to be prepared to pay a high price,” said a rebel representative, according to the Houthi television channel Al Massirah. Yemen was “subjected to a massive aggressive attack by American and British ships, submarines and fighter aircraft.” A person familiar with the matter from US government circles told the Reuters news agency that so far there has been no record of any retaliation by the militia against the US and Great Britain, but that one would not be surprised if the Houthi rebels retaliated.
Legend:
EPA/YAHYA ARHAB
The Shiite Houthi rebels are financed by the anti-Israel regional power Iran. In 2014 they stormed the Yemeni capital Sanaa and drove out the government. The Houthis’ capabilities now extend far beyond Yemen. With their weapons they can reach targets in Israel and the Red Sea. There they targeted global maritime trade and carried out attacks on transport ships in the Red Sea.
These are the reactions: Several Western countries support the attack by the USA and Great Britain. The “inherent right to individual and collective self-defense exists,” says a statement from the USA, Great Britain, Germany, Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, Australia and Bahrain.
China expressed concern and called on all sides to exercise restraint. Iran, which supports the Houthi rebels, strongly condemned the attack. Russia requested a special session of the UN Security Council because of the air strikes.