US and Britain bomb Houthis in Yemen

Gunfire is visible after an airstrike launched by the United States and Britain near Sanaa, Yemen, January 12, 2024. Wang Shang XinHua – XinHua/MAXPPP

The United States and Britain have carried out strikes against sites used by Yemen's Houthi rebels for the first time since the group began launching attacks on commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea.

"These targeted strikes are an unequivocal message that the United States and (its) allies will not tolerate attacks on our personnel, nor allow hostile parties to jeopardize freedom of navigation," said Joe Biden. The American president thus indicated Thursday January 11, 2024 in a press release that he "would not hesitate" to take further action if necessary.

The British Ministry of Defense said in a statement that “early indications are that the Houthis' ability to threaten maritime trade has been significantly affected.”

"Raids" in Sanaa in particular

A Houthi official confirmed that "raids" had been carried out across the country, notably in Sanaa the capital of Yemen, describing them as American-Zionist-British aggression.

Planes, ships and submarines were used to carry out the strikes, said a US official preferring to remain anonymous. According to him, more than ten targets were targeted.

US, UK launch airstrikes on Yemen's Houthi rebels
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— FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) January 12, 2024

Houthi attacks in the Red Sea

The Houthis, who control most of Yemen, are disrupting global trade by attacking ships passing through the Bab el Mandeb Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea, response, they say, to the war waged by Israel in Gaza.

They have, to date, carried out 27 attacks against commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea since November 19. Witnesses told Reuters that a military base near Sanaa airport, a military site near Taiz airport, a Houthi naval base in Hodeidah and military sites located in the governorate of Hajjah were targeted during raids carried out this Thursday, January 11, 2024.

The leader of the Houthis said earlier today that any US attack on the group would have consequences.