US and UK Strikes on Houthi Positions: Reactions and Implications

In a sequence of military actions, the United States and the United Kingdom conducted strikes against positions held by the Yemeni Ansarullah movement. Reports from regional media indicated confirmation from the Biden administration and the U.S. Department of Defense, along with Britain’s Ministry of Defence.

Al Hadath reported explosions across Sana’a, Saada, Hodeidah, Taiz, and Dhamar. The broadcasts described heavy shelling on the outskirts of Hodeidah, a port city home to significant Houthi facilities. El Mayadeen noted at least ten blasts in that area, and Sky News Arabia said Sana’a International Airport endured intense bombardment.

The UK Ministry of Defence provided details of the attacked targets. One facility was described as a site used for surveillance and drone operations in Bani, in the northwest of Yemen. A second target was the Abbs airfield. The ministry stated intelligence indicated it supported both cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles launched over the Red Sea.

U.S. Air Force Press Service conveyed that the operations involved more than 60 targets across 16 regions, including ammunition depots, launchers, production sites, and air defense radars. The Air Force added that over a hundred precision-guided munitions of various types were deployed. Navy Central Command aircraft supported the mission, and Tomahawk missiles were fired from surface and underwater platforms.

Violence was contested by Yahya Saria, a representative of the Ansar Allah armed forces, who claimed more than 70 strikes occurred. He accused American and British forces of backing Israel’s actions in Gaza and launching an extensive assault on Yemen, including 73 attacks on Sana’a and surrounding provinces such as Hodeidah, Taiz, Hajjah, and Saada. He warned that the retaliatory impact was significant, citing losses and injuries among fighters.

The UK Ministry of Defence added that four RAF Typhoon FGR4 jets dropped Paveway IV laser-guided bombs, with a Voyager aerial tanker providing support and the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Diamond taking part in the operation.

Officials in Washington stated that U.S. and UK forces received backing from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands. An American official told Al Jazeera that the strikes on Houthis positions in Yemen achieved their objectives. No casualty figures were immediately confirmed.

There is an absence of updated information on injuries or fatalities as events continue to unfold.

Biden’s ‘clear signal’, Sunak’s ‘proportionate action’

President Joe Biden described the Yemen attacks as a direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea, marking a notable use of anti-ship missiles. He emphasized that the action sent a clear message that the United States and its partners will not tolerate attacks on personnel or the disruption of free navigation along a vital global trade corridor. He pledged to take further measures as needed to safeguard people and the free flow of commerce.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called the operations limited, necessary, and proportionate in self-defense. He noted a pattern of harmful Houthi strikes against commercial shipping in the Red Sea, which threatened international crews, increased commodity prices, and worsened Yemen’s humanitarian crisis. Sunak committed to continuing patrols in the Red Sea to deter further aggression and urged the Houthis to halt attacks and seek de-escalation.

Following the escalation, a public demonstration occurred near the White House, with participants voicing concerns about the Gaza conflict and Yemen. Activists carried flags and signs advocating an end to hostilities in both theaters.

Houthis’ readiness to respond

Ansar Allah officials signaled that extending the conflict could provoke retaliatory actions against U.S. and British bases in the region. Abdullah bin Amer, an Al Jazeera spokesperson for Houthi leadership, stated that facilities had faced rapid and decisive responses and that the group possessed capabilities for self-defense.

The Yemeni Foreign Ministry, controlled by the Houthis, warned Washington and London of consequences in retaliation for the recent strikes. Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein al-Ezzi asserted that American and British forces would face a heavy price for the aggression. Since autumn, Houthi forces have conducted campaigns against ships in the Red Sea, including announced plans to target vessels linked to Israel in response to broader regional events. The group stated that several commercial ships from various countries were affected by these actions.

In mid-December, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced the launch of an international operation named Welfare Guardian, aimed at protecting navigation in the Red Sea in response to Houthi aggression. In January, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution proposed by the United States and Japan to safeguard ships in accordance with international law. Russia’s UN envoy, Vasily Nebenzya, criticized the resolution, arguing it could retroactively legitimize coalition actions and potentially pave the way for broader military action, raising concerns about governance of security in the region.