Last night, U.S. and UK forces collaborated on a fresh series of strikes targeting specific locations in Yemen, with a focus on dismantling storage sites utilized by the Houthis, along with drones and missile launchers, as reported by the Associated Press.
The U.S. Central Command revealed that a total of eight strikes were executed around midnight on Monday. Notably, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands joined the operation, contributing to various aspects such as surveillance and intelligence.
In a joint statement, the six participating nations, including the U.S. and the UK, emphasized their primary goal of de-escalating tensions and restoring stability in the Red Sea.
U.S. and UK forces launch a renewed assault on Houthi targets. (Credits: Star and Stripes)
However, they sternly warned the Houthi leadership, reiterating their commitment to defending lives and ensuring the unimpeded flow of commerce in one of the world’s most critical waterways against persistent threats.
UK’s Defence Minister Grant Schapps affirmed the attacks, outlining their objective to “degrade” the military capabilities of the Houthis and further weaken their limited stockpiles, thereby reducing their ability to pose a threat to global trade.
Simultaneously, the U.S. Central Command based in Bahrain clarified that the strikes by this multinational coalition specifically targeted areas in Houthi-controlled Yemen used for launching attacks on international merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region.
The selected targets included missile systems and launchers, air defense systems, radars, and well-concealed weapons storage facilities.
Highlighting the strategic intent, the Central Command emphasized that these strikes aimed to diminish the Houthi capability to persist in their reckless and unlawful attacks on U.S. and U.K. ships, as well as international commercial shipping routes in the Red Sea, Bab Al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden.
It was clarified that these actions were distinct from the multinational freedom of navigation efforts conducted under Operation Prosperity Guardian, which seeks to safeguard ships navigating through the Red Sea from Houthi attacks.
