U.S., Allies Launch New Strikes on Houthi Targets in Yemen

The Pentagon said U.S. and U.K. forces targeted Houthi missile, surveillance, and storage sites on Monday. The airstrikes yesterday mark the eighth time the United States has targeted Houthis in Yemen after merchant vessels came under attack in the Gulf of Aden.

The United States and U.K. used Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets, and worked with Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, who contributed to the mission, providing intelligence and surveillance.

In a joint statement released by the Pentagon, the six allied nations stated, “Our aim remains to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea, but let us reiterate our warning to Houthi leadership: we will not hesitate to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the world’s most critical waterways in the face of continued threats.”

The Houthis for weeks ignored calls to stop attacking commercial shipping, and claim the attacks are in response to Israel’s actions in its war against Hamas in Gaza. The vice president of Yemen’s UN-recognized government, Major General Aidarus al-Zubaidi, said he warned the U.S. and U.K. officials of the Houthi threat at a UN meeting, but he was ignored, saying, “They didn’t do anything.”