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The British military, in collaboration with the United States, has initiated airstrikes targeting Houthi rebels in Yemen, marking the UK’s first direct involvement in the recent intensified campaign against the Iranian-backed group, as announced on Wednesday.
UK officials provided a thorough rationale for their military actions, contrasting with the US approach, which has largely refrained from detailing its operations amid more than 800 airstrikes since the campaign commenced on March 15.
According to John Healey, the UK Defence Secretary, the strikes were a response to ongoing threats from the Houthis, particularly concerning navigation freedom in regional waters. “A 55% drop in shipping through the Red Sea has already incurred significant financial losses, exacerbating regional instability and jeopardizing the economic security of families in the UK,” he noted.
Reports from the Houthis indicated they had experienced multiple strikes in and around the capital, Sana’a, which they have controlled since 2014, with additional attacks reported near Saada.
The military operation, designated as Operation Rough Rider, aims to strike the rebels amid US diplomatic negotiations with Iran regarding its advancing nuclear ambitions.
The UK Ministry of Defence specified that the targets included “a cluster of buildings utilized by the Houthis for drone manufacturing,” with those drones reportedly implicated in assaults on maritime traffic in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, situated approximately 15 miles (25 km) south of Sana’a.
Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4 aircraft participated in the mission, deploying Paveway IV guided bombs. The Ministry indicated that the strikes were executed after dusk to minimize the risk of civilian casualties.
Details regarding the extent of damage or any reported casualties from the airstrikes remain undisclosed by British officials, and the US Central Command has not confirmed the operation.
UK forces have been involved in joint air operations with the US since early January 2024, but this strike represents their first engagement under the current Trump administration’s strategy.
This coordinated effort follows an incident earlier in the week, where a US airstrike reportedly targeted a prison housing African migrants, resulting in at least 68 fatalities and injuring 47 others, prompting an ongoing investigation by the US military.
On April 18, a separate American airstrike on the Ras Isa fuel port resulted in at least 74 deaths and 171 injuries, marking one of the most devastating incidents thus far in this campaign.
US forces are conducting operations in Yemen from two aircraft carriers stationed in the vicinity: the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea and the USS Carl Vinson in the Arabian Sea.
The impetus behind targeting the Houthis stems from their recent attacks on shipping in the Red Sea—a critical artery for global trade—and their ongoing hostilities towards Israel. Notably, the Houthis remain one of the final militant factions within Iran’s declared “Axis of Resistance” capable of launching regular operations against Israeli targets.
Additionally, the strikes have stirred controversy in the US, particularly regarding Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s use of the unclassified Signal messaging app to share sensitive operational details surrounding the military actions.
Source
www.theguardian.com