US and the UK ‘to carry out airstrikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen TONIGHT’: White House earlier warned of ‘consequences’ after cargo ships targeted in Red Sea
The US and Britain are ready to launch airstrikes on Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen as early as this evening – after both countries warned there could be consequences if ships continue to be attacked in the Red Sea.
Joint US and British forces shot down 18 drones and three rockets launched by the Houthis late Tuesday in what was described as their largest attack yet in solidarity with Palestinians in Hamas-ruled Gaza.
Antony Blinken warned of “consequences” if the rebels do not stop attacking ships in the Red Sea, and called on Iran to end its support for the rebels.
It comes at a difficult time for the US, with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recovering from his prostate cancer surgery. He has been in the hospital for over a week.
Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks has taken over his duties in his absence, but the Pentagon has faced backlash following news that neither the public nor President Biden were notified until days after Austin’s hospital stay.
The Houthi military helicopter flies over the Galaxy Leader cargo ship in the Red Sea in November. Joint US and British forces shot down 18 drones and three rockets launched by the Houthis late Tuesday in what was described as their largest attack yet in solidarity with Palestinians in Hamas-ruled Gaza.
Armed protesters take part in a solidarity rally with Gaza in the rebel-held Yemeni capital Sanaa. Antony Blinken warned of ‘consequences’ if rebels don’t stop attacking ships in the Red Sea, calling on Iran to end its support for the rebels
The Houthis, based in Yemen, have fired missiles, drones and missiles north towards Israel, disrupting shipping in the Red Sea.
Sources in London’s Whitehall have confirmed that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is ready to sign military reprisals against the Houthis, who have repeatedly attacked merchant shipping in the Red Sea.
The rebels say their attacks are aimed at stopping Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. But their targets are becoming increasingly indiscriminate, raising the risk of a US retaliatory attack on Yemen.
The United States has created a multinational naval task force to protect shipping from the attacks, which Blinken said on Wednesday were “aided and abetted” by Iran.
On Wednesday, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution demanding an immediate end to Houthi attacks.
Secretary of State Blinken was in Bahrain on Wednesday as part of his weeklong tour focused on working on the Middle East crisis. He has visited Israel and Saudi Arabia and will arrive in Egypt on Thursday.
Blinken was asked about the ongoing disruption to global shipping caused by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen who have fired missiles at commercial ships.
In response, the leader of Yemen’s Iran-backed Huthi rebels threatened the United States and Britain with even bigger attacks in the Red Sea on Thursday after their navies intercepted a major one.
“Any American aggression will never go without a response,” rebel leader Abdulmalik al-Huthi said in a speech broadcast live by the Huthis’ Al-Masirah television channel.
“The response to any US attack will not only be at the level of the operation recently conducted… but will be greater than that.”
The rebels said Tuesday’s attack was in retaliation for the U.S. Navy’s Dec. 31 killing of 10 Huthi fighters as they tried to board a merchant ship transiting the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen.
Personnel aboard HMS Diamond shoot down drones fired by Iran-backed Houthi rebels
Personnel aboard HMS Diamond shoot down drones fired by Iran-backed Houthi rebels
The Huthis have carried out a growing number of attacks on shipping in the Red Sea since the Gaza war broke out with Hamas’ unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7.
The UN Security Council adopted a resolution on Wednesday calling on the Huthis to ‘immediately cease’ their attacks.
The Huthi campaign, which the rebels say only targets ships linked to Israel or its allies, has caused widespread disruption, with many shipping companies choosing a much longer route around the tip of Africa for security reasons.
Washington says more than 20 countries have joined the US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian to protect the vital sea route, which usually carries about 12 percent of maritime trade.
The Huthi leader said that “there is no problem for the Europeans, China and the whole world to pass through the Red Sea.”
“The sole and exclusive target are ships linked to Israel.”
But he added that any government that joins military action against rebel naval forces will face reprisals.
“Whoever wants to get involved, attack our dear people and target the naval forces is actually risking their fleet and commercial ships,” Huthi warned.
“We hope that the rest of the Arab and Muslim countries will never get involved with the Americans, the Israelis and the British.”