Australia has joined the United States, United Kingdom and a host of other countries in launching airstrikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
The attacks, which included warship-launched Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets, were launched in an attempt to stem the Yemen-based militant group’s series of attacks on commercial ships traversing the Red Sea, a key artery for global trade, that have escalated in recent times to deter. months.
The strikes successfully targeted more than a dozen locations, including training bases, as well as radar, missile and drone capabilities, and were confirmed by a joint statement released on Friday (AEDT) by the Australian government, along with other participating to land.
“In response to ongoing illegal, dangerous and destabilizing Houthi attacks on ships, including commercial shipping, transiting the Red Sea, the armed forces of the United States and the United Kingdom, with support from the Netherlands, Canada, Bahrain and “Australia, joint strikes in accordance with the inherent right of individual and collective self-defence, in accordance with the UN Charter, against a number of targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen,” the statement said.
Australia has joined allies the US and Britain in launching strikes against a group of armed rebels who have attacked ships (photo stock image) crucial to global trade
“These precision strikes were intended to disrupt and degrade the capabilities the Houthis use to threaten global trade and the lives of international sailors in one of the world’s most critical waterways.
“Our goal remains to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea, but let our message be clear: we will not hesitate to defend lives and protect the free flow of commerce in one of the world’s most critical waterways in light of ongoing threats.”
Defense Minister Richard Marles said the ADF had played a non-operational role in support of the airstrikes.
“Our support has come in the form of staff at operational headquarters for this activity,” Mr Marles told reporters in Geelong.
“The actions taken today, supported by Australia, are about preserving freedom of navigation on the high seas. They are about maintaining global trade, which is completely central to Australia’s national interest. This decision was not taken lightly.”
Defense Minister Richard Marles (pictured) said the move was necessary to protect Australia’s national interests in ensuring the free movement of essential goods and raw materials
However, when asked when the Albanian government was first informed by the US or Britain about the decision to carry out the attacks, Marles said he would not release such information.
“We are of course in close contact with our partners in the United States and Great Britain,” he said.
The strikes followed an escalation of attacks by Houthi militants in recent days, but the response is likely to fuel fears of a wider outbreak of conflict in the Middle East that could threaten trade and crude oil flows.
According to the US Central Command, Houthi militants have carried out 27 attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea since mid-November.
Oil prices rose overnight, with West Texas Intermediate rising as much as 2.4 percent to $74 a barrel in response to the strikes.
Several shipping companies, including Maersk and BP, have diverted their ships away from the area and instead rerouted them around Africa because of the attacks.
In December, Australia refused a request from the Biden administration to send a warship as part of the international effort to protect cargo from rebel attacks, with Australia opting to send up to six defense personnel to the US operation.
The Red Sea is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. It connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Suez Canal with the Indian Ocean.
Australia has deployed several defense personnel to the Red Sea as the US military conducts operations in the area (stock photo of a military ship) to protect cargo ships
Multiple airstrikes (pictured) have been carried out against Houthi rebels, who have carried out nearly 30 attacks on ships carrying cargo
Houthi leader Abdul Qader al-Mortada confirmed that the major attacks had taken place.
“The American-Zionist-British aggression against Yemen is leading to several attacks on the capital, Sanaa, Hudaydah Governorate, Saada and Dhamar,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The rebels have vowed to continue their attacks in response to the war in Gaza, specifically targeting Israeli-affiliated ships.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday addressed Iran’s role in the conflict, accusing the country of playing a “destructive” role in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
“Iran must stop interfering and Iran is playing a very destructive role in the region,” he told reporters in Melbourne.
“Australia, through Penny Wong, will continue to make our position very clear. We want to ensure that the conflict does not widen.’