US and UK Launch Joint Strikes on Houthi Targets in Yemen following Iran-Backed Attacks

The United States and Britain Launch Strikes on Houthi Targets in Yemen

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States and Britain conducted a series of strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen on Saturday, as part of a larger effort to disable Iran-backed groups that have been carrying out attacks on American and international interests. The strikes were launched in response to the recent drone strike in Jordan that resulted in the death of three U.S. troops, and the constant assaults by Houthi militias in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war.

The latest round of strikes, which included an air assault in Iraq and Syria on Friday, were aimed at weakening other Iranian-backed militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. The Houthi targets in Yemen were hit in 10 different locations by U.S. F/A-18 fighter jets and American warships firing Tomahawk missiles from the Red Sea.

Continued Assault by Houthis

Saturday’s strikes mark the third joint operation by the U.S. and Britain to strike Houthi weapon launchers, radar sites, and drones. However, despite the targeted assaults, the Houthi militias have shown no intention of scaling back their attacks.

Earlier on Friday, the U.S. destroyer Laboon and F/A-18s from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower intercepted and shot down seven drones fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into the Red Sea. The destroyer USS Carney also shot down a drone in the Gulf of Aden, and four more drones that were prepared to launch were neutralized by U.S. forces.

Iran-Backed Groups Deny Responsibility

Following the drone strike that killed three U.S. troops in Jordan, the U.S. initiated the air assault targeting the Iranian-backed militias. Iran, however, has distanced itself from the attack, claiming that these militias operate independently. Meanwhile, the Iraqi government, in a delicate position, condemned the strikes as a violation of their sovereignty, especially since some of the facilities targeted belonged to the Population Mobilization Forces, a coalition of Iranian-backed militias currently operating in Iraq.

Tensions in the Middle East

Hussein al-Mosawi, spokesperson for Harakat al-Nujaba, one of the main Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, condemned the U.S. strikes but suggested a desire to deescalate tensions in the region. He stressed that their intention is not to further escalate or widen tensions.

While casualty reports from the strikes in Iraq and Syria have been conflicting, reports suggest that at least 23 fighters were killed. In Iraq, 16 people were killed, including civilians, and there was significant damage to homes and private properties.

Skirmishes and Reconnaissance with Houthi Rebels

Saturday also saw skirmishes between the U.S. military’s Central Command and Houthi rebels. The USS Carney intercepted and shot down a drone over the Gulf of Aden. Additionally, U.S. airstrikes targeted six anti-ship cruise missiles that were prepared to launch.

Overnight, F/A-18 fighter jets from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, with the assistance of the USS Laboon, shot down seven Houthi drones in the Red Sea.

These series of strikes and skirmishes demonstrate the ongoing escalations and conflicts in the region between the U.S., its allies, and Iranian-backed militia groups.

Credits and Contributors

This news article includes contributions from Abdulrahman Zeyad and Ali Jabar in Baghdad, Abby Sewell and Bassem Mroue in Beirut, and Jon Gambrell in Jerusalem.