Earlier this month, Yemeni Houthi rebels attacked a Belize-flagged ship which has now resulted in an 18-mile oil slick in the Red Sea, the U.S. military said on Saturday.
18-mile oil slick from British cargo ship hit by Houthi missile in the Red Sea as seen from space. U.S. military warns ‘environmental disaster’ will worsen if ship sinks with 41,000 tons of fertilizer aboard. pic.twitter.com/g5kxkr5anz
— Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) February 24, 2024
In retaliation for that attack and others by the Iran-backed militants, the United States and the U.K. launched retaliatory strikes Saturday that involved at least 18 targets, according to reports.
The United States and Britain carried out another round of large-scale military strikes Saturday against multiple sites in Yemen controlled by Houthi militants, U.S. officials said.
The strikes were intended to degrade the Iran-backed militants’ ability to attack ships in sea lanes that are critical for global trade, a campaign they have carried out for almost four months.
American and British warplanes hit missile systems and launchers and other targets, the officials said. Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand provided support for the operation, according to a joint statement from the countries involved that was emailed to reporters by the Defense Department.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) issued a statement:
U.S. Forces, Allies Conduct Joint Strikes in Yemen
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 24, 2024
On Feb. 24, at approximately 11:50 p.m. (Sanaa Yemen time), U.S. Central Command forces alongside UK Armed Forces, and with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, conducted strikes… pic.twitter.com/hAQ8Ftkihp
On Feb. 24, at approximately 11:50 p.m. (Sanaa Yemen time), U.S. Central Command forces alongside UK Armed Forces, and with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, conducted strikes against 18 Houthi targets in Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist-controlled areas of Yemen.
The statement explained why the multinational force took action:
These strikes from this multilateral coalition targeted areas used by the Houthis to attack international merchant vessels and naval ships in the region. Illegal Houthi attacks have disrupted humanitarian aid bound for Yemen, harmed Middle Eastern economies, and caused environmental damage.
Lastly, the tweet detailed what targets were hit and why:
The targets included Houthi underground weapons storage facilities, missile storage facilities, one-way attack unmanned aerial systems, air defense systems, radars, and a helicopter. These strikes are intended to degrade Houthi capability and disrupt their continued reckless and unlawful attacks on international commercial and U.S. and U.K. vessels in the Red Sea, Bab AI-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden. The goal of this multi-national effort is to defend ourselves, our partners, and allies in the region and restore freedom of navigation by destroying Houthi capabilities used to threaten U.S. and partner forces in the Red Sea and surrounding waterways. These strikes are separate and distinct from the multinational freedom of navigation actions performed under Operation Prosperity Guardian.
RedState will deliver updates to this story as they develop.
See also:
Defiant Houthis Not Backing Down, Vow 'Escalation' After US Attacks
US and UK Forces Strike Back Against Houthis in Yemen After Attacks on Tankers
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