US and Britain carry out new strikes against Houthis in Yemen

The Pentagon has confirmed that US-UK strikes are continuing, in response to attacks by Iranian-backed rebels on shipping in the Red Sea.

New strikes. The United States and Great Britain carried out strikes on Saturday February 24 targeting 18 Houthi targets in eight separate sites in Yemen. The strikes were in response to attacks by Iranian-backed rebels on ships in the Red Sea, the Pentagon said. AFP journalists present in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, heard loud explosions on Saturday.

Houthi rebels “will suffer the consequences” of their attacks in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, the United States Defense Minister warned on Saturday, shortly after the announcement of the strikes. “The United States will not hesitate to take action, if necessary, to defend human lives and free trade,” added the Pentagon chief.

Air raids supported by at least six countries

According to a message on X from the British Defense Minister, Saturday’s air raids represent the “fourth series of precision strikes” British against the Houthis in Yemen. These joint air raids in Yemen were carried out with other countries that supported the operation: Canada, Australia, Bahrain, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand, according to a joint statement from the eight countries. In addition to joint operations with Britain, the United States has carried out unilateral strikes against Houthi sites in Yemen and shot down dozens of missiles and drones in the Red Sea.

Pro-Iran insurgents, whose stronghold is Sanaa, have promised to “respond to the US-UK escalation with more sophisticated military operations against all hostile targets in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, in order to defend our country, our people and our nation”according to a statement from Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree.