Houthi terrorists have launched more than 45 attacks on naval and commercial vessels since mid-November. Multiple nations, led by the United States and the United Kingdom, launched strikes against the Houthis in Yemen on Saturday following the terrorist group’s continued attacks against naval and commercial vessels traveling through the Red Sea and surrounding waters. The strikes were supported by Australia, Bahrain, Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.
The strikes aimed to disrupt and degrade the capabilities that the Houthis use to threaten global trade, naval vessels, and the lives of innocent mariners in one of the world’s most critical waterways. On Feb. 22, a Houthi missile attack struck a British-owned vessel and injured a crewmember. On Feb. 19, another missile attack nearly struck a U.S.-owned ship delivering humanitarian aid to Yemen. A day earlier, there was an assault against a UK vessel, forcing the crew to abandon the ship.
To date, the Houthis have launched over 45 attacks on naval and commercial vessels since mid-November, constituting “a threat to the global economy, as well as regional security and stability, and demand an international response.” In the joint statement, the group of nations asserted their goal was to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea but that they will not hesitate to retaliate to defend life and the free flow of commerce.
Houthis denounced the joint attack, stating that the Yemeni Armed Forces will confront the “US-British escalation with more qualitative military operations against all hostile targets in the Red and Arabian Seas.” Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani accused the United States and Britain of seeking to escalate tensions and crises in the region. In a statement about the attack, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin affirmed that the United States “will not hesitate to take action” to protect commerce through one of the world’s most critical waterways.
Over the past month and a half, there have been 32 U.S. strikes in Yemen, a few of them conducted with allies. In addition, American warships have also taken out several missiles, drones, and rockets targeting naval or commercial vessels. Concerns have been raised that America’s continued strikes against Houthis may end up becoming a proxy war with Iran. The European Union is also strengthening military presence in the Red Sea in an effort to restore maritime security and freedom of navigation.