American and British attacks on Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have increased attacks on shipping in the Red Sea in recent weeks, are “limited, necessary and proportionate”, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said.
“Despite repeated warnings from the international community, the Houthis have continued to carry out attacks in the Red Sea, including this week, against British and American warships. This cannot continue (…) So we have taken limited, necessary and proportionate action in self-defense,” he said in a statement.
The airstrikes were carried out on Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and other rebel-held cities in Hodeida and Sadaa, the Houthi Al-Massirah television channel said on Friday.
AFP correspondents in these three cities said they heard several explosions.
The American-British operation was carried out “in direct response to the unprecedented Houthi attacks against international shipping in the Red Sea,” Joe Biden said in a press release, referring to a “defensive” action.
The American president also warned that he “will not hesitate” to “order further measures” if necessary to protect America and international trade.
The attacks involved fighter jets and Tomahawk missiles, several American media reported. They benefited from “support” from Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands, the White House said.
Yemeni rebel leader Abdel Malek al-Houthi threatened on Thursday to respond to any American attack in the Red Sea with even “larger” operations than Tuesday’s particularly heavy one.
18 drones and three missiles were then shot down by three American destroyers, a British ship HMS Diamond and fighter planes deployed from the American aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower.
2024-01-12 01:52:20
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