In a significant military escalation, United States and United Kingdom warplanes, warships, and submarines, with backing from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, conducted strikes on over a dozen locations against the Houthi rebels in Yemen on Friday (12th). The Houthis, in response, have issued a stern warning of severe retaliation, as reported by Foreign Media.
The intense conflict unfolded as the Sri Lanka Navy prepared to deploy a warship to the Red Sea following President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s directives. This move, however, faced public opposition within Sri Lanka, with many expressing concerns about the country’s involvement in a conflict perceived as unrelated to its own interests.
Videos circulating on social media depict massive explosions in key Yemeni locations, including the capital, Sanaa, the primary port of Hudaydah, the town of Dhamar, and the north-western Houthi stronghold of Saada.
U.S. President Joe Biden explained that he authorized the strikes “in direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks against international maritime vessels in the Red Sea.” The president’s statement, released by the White House, highlighted the successful coordination with the United Kingdom, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands in targeting Houthi rebel sites.
President Biden emphasized his commitment to taking further measures, if necessary, to safeguard people and ensure the unimpeded flow of international commerce. The strikes involved fighter jets and Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from warships and submarines stationed in the Red Sea. UK Royal Air Force jets, dispatched from the RAF base in Cyprus, and US aircraft launched from the aircraft carrier Eisenhower played pivotal roles in the operation.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak publicly addressed the strikes, characterizing them as “limited, necessary, and proportionate action in self-defense.” The joint military operation underscores the international community’s response to escalating tensions in the region, even as the Houthi rebels issue warnings of severe reprisals.
