2024 missile strikes in Yemen

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2024 missile strikes against Yemen
Part of Operation Prosperity Guardian, the Houthi involvement in the Israel–Hamas war, the Israel-Hamas war and the Yemeni civil war
Location of airstrikes inside Houthi controlled territory in Yemen
Location
Houthi-held Yemen
Planned United States
 United Kingdom
Commanded byUnited States Joe Biden
United Kingdom Rishi Sunak
ObjectiveRestore freedom of navigation in the Red Sea[1]
Date12 January 2024 (2024-01-12)
Executed by
OutcomeHouthis' ability to threaten merchant shipping degraded (U.K. estimate)[2]
Casualties5 Houthis killed, 6 wounded (Houthi estimate)[2]

On the morning of 12 January 2024, the United States and the United Kingdom, with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands, launched a series of airstrikes against the Houthis in Yemen, one day after a United Nations Security Council resolution condemned Houthi aggression in the Red Sea.[3][4][5]

United States president Joe Biden said he ordered the strikes, while UK prime minister Rishi Sunak convened his cabinet to authorize British participation.[6][7] They came in response to Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea,[8] themselves in response to the 2023 Israel–Hamas war in support of Hamas.[9]

American officials said the strikes were intended to degrade Houthi capabilities to attack Red Sea targets rather than to kill leaders and Iranian trainers; the Houthis said at least five were killed and six wounded.[10][11]

Background

With the start of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, the Iranian-backed,[a] Houthi-controlled Supreme Political Council declared its support for Hamas and began launching attacks on commercial ships transiting the Red Sea, especially in the Bab el-Mandeb, the narrow strait that connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.[13] While the Houthis initially claimed to target only commercial ships bound for Israeli ports or with some link to Israel,[14] they soon began indiscriminately targeting vessels, attempting attacks on ships with no discernible Israeli ties.[14][15] To launch attacks on Red Sea shipping, the Houthis use coastal missile batteries, loitering munitions and fast attack craft armed with light autocannons, machine guns and anti-tank missiles.[16]

Before the attack on the Hangzhou, the United States had shot down Houthi missiles and drones and deployed naval ships to protect Red Sea shipping lanes, but had not engaged directly with the Houthis.[17]

On 3 January, the United States and a group of countries issued a final ultimatum to the Houthis to stop their activities that undermine freedom of navigation.[18] In the days leading up to the strike, members of US Congress and the Pentagon demanded a strong and deterrent response to the Houthis.[19] One day before the airstrikes, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution condemning Houthi aggression in the Red Sea.[dead link][20][21][22]

Events

USN fighter jets taking off prior to the airstrikes
Tomahawk missiles being launched from a U.S. destroyer

The strikes began about 2:30am Yemen time (11:30pm UTC).[23] American fighter jets carrying precision-guided bombs were deployed from bases in the region and from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier. Surface ships and the USS Florida submarine launched Tomahawk cruise missiles. The BBC reported four Royal Air Force Typhoon jets deployed from the RAF Akrotiri airbase in Cyprus participated in the strike. The U.S. Air Forces Central announced that US and coalition forces had used over 100 munitions to strike more than 60 targets at 16 locations.[24][25][26]

Explosions were reported in Sanaa, Hodeidah and Dhamar. The targets included logistics centres, air defense systems and weapons storage sites. According to a Houthi-run news channel, Hodeida International Airport, Taiz International Airport, the al-Dailami Air Base north of Sanaa, an airport near Hajjah and a camp east of Saada were hit.[3]

Reactions

Domestic

Houthi deputy foreign minister, Hussein al-Izzi, called the attacks "blatant aggression" and said the US and UK would "pay a heavy price" in an interview with Al-Masirah.[27] Similarly, high-ranking Houthi official Ali al-Qahoum vowed there would be retaliation.[3]

Mohammed Abdulsalam, a spokesman for the group, announced that the Houthis would continue to target Israeli ships or any ships heading to "the ports of occupied Palestine," saying that the US and UK were wrong to think that the strikes "would deter Yemen from supporting Palestine and Gaza".[27]

United States

Reactions in Congress were mixed, with some supporting the airstrikes and others condemning Biden for using military force without congressional approval. Some critics claimed that, in accordance with Article 1 of the Constitution, Biden needed to seek authorization from Congress before initiating military action, though the 1973 War Powers Resolution allows the president to unilaterally take military action but must notify Congress within 48 hours.[28][29] The Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, welcomed the action but said the president's decision was overdue.[28]

Biden stated, "today’s defensive action follows this extensive diplomatic campaign and Houthi rebels’ escalating attacks against commercial vessels" and "I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary".[30]

Protesters from Code Pink and the ANSWER Coalition gathered outside the White House several hours after the strikes, chanting "let Yemen live" and "hands off Yemen".[31] In New York City, pro-Palestinian protestors gathered at Times Square, chanting "hands off the Middle East", "hands off Yemen" and "hands off Gaza".[31]

United Kingdom

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that the strikes stemmed from the principle of self-defense.[32] He also confirmed that the UK received non-operational assistance and support from the Netherlands, Canada and Bahrain.[33]

The UK noted that initial indications suggest that the Houthis' ability to threaten commercial shipping has "taken a blow".[34] Two parties, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party of England and Wales, criticized the government for bypassing parliament, while the leader of the Scottish National Party in the House of Commons, Stephen Flynn, said "It is incumbent upon the UK Government to appraise Parliament as soon as possible and MPs must therefore be recalled to Westminster".[35]

Other

China's Mao Ning urged restraint.[36]

Iran's foreign ministry condemned the strikes as a "clear violation of Yemen's sovereignty and territorial integrity" and a violation of international laws.[27]

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova condemned the attack.[37]

Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry called for restraint.[38]

Hezbollah and Hamas condemned the strikes.[39][40]

Notes

  1. ^ Both Iran and the Houthi movement deny that Iran is involved or is backing the Houthis.[12]

References

  1. ^ "U.S.-led coalition strikes Iran-aligned Houthi militants in Yemen". Washington Post. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b "US, Britain carry out strikes against Houthis in Yemen". Reuters. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Baldor, Lolita C.; Copp, Tara (11 January 2024). "US, British militaries launch massive retaliatory strike against Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024.
  4. ^ Landay, Jonathan; Mohammed, Arshad (11 January 2024). "UN Security Council demands Houthis stop Red Sea attacks". Reuters. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024.
  5. ^ Kube, Courtney; Stelloh, Tim (11 January 2024). "U.S. and Britain launch strikes against targets in Houthi-controlled Yemen". NBC News. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  6. ^ Liebermann, Oren; Britzky, Haley; Bertrand, Natasha; Marquardt, Alex; Lee, MJ; Hansler, Jennifer (11 January 2024). "US and UK carry out airstrikes against Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen". CNN. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  7. ^ Wickham, Alex; McBride, Courtney (11 January 2024). "UK's Sunak Authorizes Joint Military Strikes With US Against Houthis". Bloomberg. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  8. ^ Watson, Eleanor (11 January 2024). "U.S. and U.K. striking Houthi targets in Yemen to retaliate for spate of attacks". CBS News. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  9. ^ Schmitt, Eric; Cooper, Helene (11 January 2024). "U.S. Missiles Strike Targets in Yemen Linked to the Houthi Militia". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  10. ^ Schmitt, Eric; Cooper, Helene (11 January 2024). "U.S. Missiles Strike Targets in Yemen Linked to the Houthi Militia". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  11. ^ Gambrell, Jon (12 January 2024). "Houthi rebels say US-led strikes in Yemen killed 5 people and wounded 6, raising Mideast tensions". Associated Press.
  12. ^ "Who are Yemen's Houthis? Iran-allied group threatens Red Sea shipping" (News article). Reuters. 14 December 2023. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  13. ^ Santana, Rebecca (31 December 2023). "Houthis show no sign of ending 'reckless' Red Sea attacks as trade traffic picks up, commander says". Associated Press.
  14. ^ a b Stewart, Phil (4 January 2024). "Houthi drone boat detonates in Red Sea a day after US warning". Reuters.
  15. ^ Diakun, Bridget; Raanan, Tomer (15 December 2023). "Houthis target tenth ship in Red Sea as attacks turn increasingly indiscriminate". Lloyd's List.
  16. ^ Sutton, H I (13 October 2018). "Houthi_Navy". Covert Shores. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  17. ^ Sanger, David; Schmitt, Eric; Shankar, Vivek (31 December 2023). "U.S. Helicopters Sink 3 Houthi Boats in Red Sea, Pentagon Says". The New York Times.
  18. ^ Miller, Zeke; Madhani, Amer (3 January 2024). "US warns Houthis to cease attacks on Red Sea vessels or face potential military action". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  19. ^ Youssef, Nancy; Faucon, Benoit; Paris, Costas; Al-Batati, Saleh (11 January 2024). "U.S.-Led Coalition Launches Strikes on Multiple Houthi Rebel Targets in Yemen". The Wall Street Journal.
  20. ^ "Adopting Resolution 2722 (2024) Security Council Demands Houthis Immediately Stop Attacks on Merchant, Commercial Vessels in Red Sea". www.un.org. 10 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  21. ^ Xinhua News. "UN Security Council adopts resolution on Red Sea attacks by Houthis". Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  22. ^ Tribune, The National (11 January 2024). "Adopting Resolution 2722 (2024) with 11 Votes in Favour, 1 Against, Security Council Demands Houthis Immediately Stop Attacks on Merchant, Commercial Vessels…". The National Tribune. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  23. ^ Jennifer Jacobs; Anthony Capaccio; Mohammed Hatem (11 January 2024). "US and UK Strike Yemen's Houthis After Red Sea Ship Attacks". Bloomberg News.
  24. ^ Oren Liebermann; Haley Britzky; Natasha Bertrand; Kevin Liptak; Alex Marquardt; MJ Lee; Jennifer Hansler (12 January 2024). "US and UK carry out strikes against Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen". CNN.
  25. ^ Eric Schmitt; Helene Cooper (11 January 2024). "U.S. Missiles Strike Targets in Yemen Linked to the Houthi Militia". The New York Times.
  26. ^ "US and UK strikes target Houthi rebels in Yemen". BBC News. 12 January 2024. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  27. ^ a b c "US and UK launch strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen". BBC News.
  28. ^ a b Singh, Kanishka; Beech, Eric (12 January 2024). "Reactions to US, British strikes against Houthis in Yemen". Reuters. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024.
  29. ^ "War Powers Resolution of 1973 | Richard Nixon Museum and Library". www.nixonlibrary.gov. 27 July 2021. Archived from the original on 15 September 2021.
  30. ^ "Statement from President Joe Biden on Coalition Strikes in Houthi-Controlled Areas in Yemen". The White House. 12 January 2024. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  31. ^ a b Singh, Kanishka (11 January 2024). "Anti-war activists in New York City, Washington protest U.S., UK strikes in Yemen". Reuters. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  32. ^ Rathbone, John Paul; Parker, George; Fisher, Lucy; Schwartz, Felicia (12 January 2024). "US and UK launch strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  33. ^ Indonesia, C. N. N. "4 Negara Ikut AS-Inggris Gempur Yaman, Ada Negara Arab dan Tetangga RI". internasional (in Indonesian). Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  34. ^ "Air strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen". Government of the United Kingdom. 12 January 2024. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  35. ^ Mason, Chris (12 January 2024). "A landmark moment for Rishi Sunak, but uncertainty abounds". BBC News. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  36. ^ https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-01-12/China-urges-all-sides-in-Yemen-to-prevent-conflict-expansion-1qiUGD9CaEE/p.html
  37. ^ https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2024/01/12/3021699/moscow-condemns-us-strikes-in-yemen
  38. ^ Maher, Hatem (12 January 2024). "Saudi Arabia calls for restraint after air strikes on Yemen". Reuters. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  39. ^ https://en.mehrnews.com/news/210672/Hezbollah-firmly-condemns-US-UK-aggression-on-Yemen
  40. ^ https://www.barrons.com/news/hamas-says-us-uk-strikes-on-yemen-threaten-regional-security-69f82f78
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