US Launches Fresh Strikes in Yemen After Attack on Friday

In a series of escalating events, the United States carried out another round of strikes in Yemen, targeting a Houthi radar site. This is just a day after the broader US-UK airstrikes on Friday that hit nearly 30 locations, killed five and injured about 6 Yemenis.

The US military described the recent attack as a “follow-on action” and stated that it deployed Tomahawk missiles from the USS Carney, a Navy destroyer.

These strikes come in response to Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, which the US and UK perceive as being a threat to the free passage of goods and, consequently, global economic stability.

President Biden had previously issued a warning, stating that the US would respond if the Houthis continued their “outrageous behaviour” in attacking Red Sea shipping.

Who Are The Houthis?

The Houthis are a Yemeni militia group that has been attacking ships in the Red Sea, a major global shipping route near the Suez Canal. Following the onset of the Gaza war, they started targeting vessels with missiles and drones, disrupting trade and raising concerns about fuel prices and supply chains. The US and Israel have intercepted most attacks. The Houthis, backed by Iran and controlling much of Yemen, justify their actions as righteous support for Gaza and vow retaliation for any attacks in Yemen. Their aggression in the Red Sea has put them in the global spotlight.

US-UK Strikes on Yemen:

The strikes follow President Biden’s vow to protect shipping in the Red Sea and maintain control over maritime security. On Friday, the US and UK launched over 100 airstrikes against the militant group in western Yemen. In the early hours of the morning, large explosions rocked Yemen’s capital Sana’a, Hodeidah, and three other regions. The US military reported that its attack constituted 60 strikes targeting 16 locations associated with the Houthis’ military activities.

The raid evoked mass protest in Sana’a, with millions of Yemenis carrying placards that portrayed anger towards the US and Israel.

Other Middle Eastern countries voiced concern that the attacks would escalate tension in the already volatile country. People protested the US strikes on Yemen at a rally in Seattle also.

Responding, Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a senior Houthi official, said in a post on X (formerly Twitter): “Yemen is not an easy military opponent that can be subdued quickly. It is ready to enter a long-term battle that will change the direction of the region and the world.”

The Houthi threatened further attacks on the Red Sea, triggering Biden to order another airstrike. The latest US-led strikes in Yemen, particularly the targeted Houthi radar site, prompt concerns about the region’s stability.

Although nobody was killed due to the high-precision munitions deployed, the intervention of the US might open the way to a long-standing conflict between both nations. To avert this, the U.N. special envoy for Yemen on Saturday urged all parties to show maximum restraint.

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