Joint Attacks Against Houthis; US Defense Secretary: We Will Conduct More Operations If Necessary

The US Defense Secretary announced that the United States and Britain carried out attacks early Friday against military targets in areas controlled by the Houthis in Yemen; operations aimed at "disrupting the capabilities of the Houthis" and preventing "threats to global trade." Lloyd Austin stated in the announcement: "In response to the illegal and dangerous attacks by the Iran-aligned Houthis on American and international ships as well as commercial vessels — which are legally navigating in the Red Sea — this operation was executed." Austin also emphasized that the United States reserves the right to defend itself and will take further actions to protect American forces if necessary. The Defense Secretary highlighted the urgency of collective action, noting that since November 19, the Houthis have launched dozens of attacks on various ships, including commercial vessels; a situation that has become an "international challenge" requiring "international collective effort." Lloyd Austin noted that the coalition of countries participating in this operation demonstrated their shared commitment to maintaining an international order based on laws and protecting US ships, along with commercial vessels exercising their rights and freedoms of navigation, against unjustifiable attacks. According to this statement, the aim of these coordinated and joint attacks was to disrupt and reduce the capabilities of the Houthis, prevent jeopardizing maritime activities, and create a threat to global trade in one of the world's most critical waterways. The report indicated that these attacks targeted Houthi bases related to drones, ballistic and cruise missiles, coastal radar, and aerial surveillance capabilities. The President of the United States also confirmed the attacks by the US and Britain on Houthi positions in Yemen on Thursday, stating: "These attacks were conducted at my direction and successfully, unitedly, and decisively with the presence of US military forces, Britain, and with the support of Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands." Joe Biden described the purpose of the Friday morning attacks on Houthi positions as "ensuring freedom of navigation in one of the world's most critical waterways" and added: "These attacks are a direct response to the unprecedented Houthi attacks against international maritime vessels, including the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles for the first time in history in the Red Sea." He clarified: "These attacks have endangered the lives and property of American personnel, civilian mariners, and our partners, disrupted trade, and threatened freedom of navigation. More than 50 countries have been affected by 27 attacks on international commercial shipping. Crews from over 20 countries have been threatened or taken hostage in acts of piracy. More than 2,000 ships have had to change their routes thousands of miles to avoid passing through the Red Sea, which could cause delays of several weeks in product delivery, and on January 9, the Houthis carried out their largest attack to date, directly targeting American ships." Airstrikes by the coalition against the Houthis in Yemen; Saudi Arabia called for restraint. Broad support from American lawmakers for the attacks by the US and its allies against the Houthis; a necessary response to ongoing attacks. A senior Biden administration official stated: The Islamic Republic has always been a supporter of the Houthis, and I would say the main supporter of them. The British statement on the attack on Houthi positions; insecurity in international waterways is intolerable. Joe Biden confirmed the attack on Houthi positions in Yemen; the international community's response to this group was "united and decisive." The result of the Houthis' insistence on disrupting international shipping; the positions of this group supported by the Islamic Republic in Yemen were targeted. France is escorting ships with its interests in the Red Sea. Blinken's warning to the Islamic Republic: Supporting the Houthis will have "consequences."