On Saturday, the United States and Great Britain attacked 36 targets in 13 locations in Yemen, which are said to belong to the Houthi movement, the United States and Great Britain said in a joint statement.
The attacks are “a response to the Houthi movement’s continued attacks against international merchant ships and warships in the Red Sea,” the countries write.
Aimed at robots
The attack was carried out with both Tomahawk cruise robots and fighter jets. Among the targets were six cruise missiles that were “ready to launch,” according to the US military.
The Houthi movement, with close ties to and support from Iran, has been controlling a large part of Yemen for almost a decade. Alongside the war in Gaza, the movement has carried out attacks and attempted hijackings against merchant and warships in the Red Sea, prompting the US and UK to respond by attacking its strongholds on Yemeni soil.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says Saturday’s attack targeted Houthi weapons caches, missile systems, air defenses and radar systems. The attack was intended to send “a clear message” to end attacks in the Red Sea.
– We will not hesitate to defend life and free trade in one of the world’s most important waterways, says Austin.
Refers to Gaza
Muhammed al-Bukhaiti, a Houthi spokesman, says military operations against Israel will continue “as long as the genocide in Gaza continues and until the blockade against its residents is lifted, no matter how much sacrifice it requires on our part”.
In another statement, he warns that the movement will respond to “American-British aggression”:
“We will meet escalation with escalation”.