The US and UK are poised to carry out airstrikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen as early as tonight – after both countries warned there could be consequences if ships in the Red Sea continue to be attacked.
Joint US and British forces shot down 18 drones and three missiles fired by the Houthis late on Tuesday. This was their largest attack to date in solidarity with Palestinians in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.
Antony Blinken warned of “consequences” if the Houthis 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 as Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reels from prostate cancer surgery. He has been in the hospital for over a week.
Acting Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks has assumed her duties in his absence, but the Pentagon faced backlash after it was revealed that neither the public nor President Biden were informed until days after Austin's hospitalization.
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 missiles fired by the Houthis late on Tuesday. This was their largest attack to date in solidarity with Palestinians in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip
Armed protesters take part in a rally in solidarity with Gaza in the rebel-held Yemeni capital Sanaa. 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
The Yemen-based Houthis have fired rockets, drones and missiles north toward Israel, disrupting shipping in the Red Sea
Sources in London's Whitehall have confirmed that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is ready to sign off on military retaliation against the Houthis, who have repeatedly attacked merchant ships in the Red Sea.
If a coalition attack were launched overnight on Thursday, it would come seven days after the western allies' “final warning” to the rebel group.
The rebels say their attacks are aimed at stopping Israel's war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. But their targets are becoming increasingly random, increasing the risk of a US retaliatory strike against Yemen.
The US has set up a multinational naval task force to protect shipping from the attacks, which Blinken said on Wednesday were “aided and abetted” by Iran.
So far, the Biden administration has not been overly forceful in its resolutions to prevent an all-out war in the tense region, security officials have said previously.
Brigadier General Pat Ryder, Pentagon spokesman, said at a news conference in Washington DC: “I will not telegraph, forecast or speculate about possible future operations.”
“And I think the statement from several nations that there will be consequences if the attacks don’t stop speaks for itself.”
“And I’ll just leave it at that.”
Asked about possible U.S. strikes against the Houthis in Yemen, national security spokesman John Kirby said: “I'm not going to announce our strikes here one way or the other.”
“We will do what we must to counter and defeat these threats that the Houthis continue to pose to commercial shipping in the Red Sea.”
On Wednesday, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution calling for an immediate end to Houthi attacks.
Secretary of State Blinken was in Bahrain on Wednesday as part of his week-long trip to resolve the Middle East crisis.
Brigadier General Pat Ryder, Pentagon spokesman, said at a news conference in Washington DC: “I will not telegraph, forecast or speculate about possible future operations.” And I think the statement from several nations that there will be consequences if the Attacks don't stop speaks for itself. And I'll leave it at that'
Yemenis, who recently received military training from the Houthi movement, hold their weapons and shout slogans as they take part in a popular armed parade in Al-Sabeen Square on December 2 to prepare for the fight against Israel Prepare the Gaza Strip
An armed Houthi fighter walks through the beach on Dec. 5 with the cargo ship Galaxy Leader in the background, which was seized by the Houthis off the coast of Al-Salif port
Houthi fighters open the cockpit door on the deck of the Galaxy Leader ship in the Red Sea in November
A Yemeni man passes a banner with the Israeli and U.S. flags on the deck of the cargo ship Galaxy Leader, which was seized by the Houthis on December 5 off the coast of Al-Salif port on the Red Sea in Hodeidah province, Yemen
In the United Kingdom, Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said on Thursday: “Be absolutely sure that Iran is taking the lead on what's happening there in the Red Sea, not just by providing them with equipment to carry out these attacks, but often with eyes and eyes Ears.” Ears to allow these attacks.
“We have to make it clear to the Houthis that this has to stop and that is my simple message to them today and we have to watch this space.”
In response to rising tensions, the leader of Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Thursday threatened the United States and Britain with even bigger attacks in the Red Sea after their navies intercepted a major attack.
“Any American aggression will never go without response,” rebel leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi said in a speech broadcast live by Houthi television channel Al-Masirah.
“The response to any American attack will not only be at the level of the recent operation … but it will go beyond.”
The rebels said Tuesday's attack was in retaliation for the U.S. Navy's Dec. 31 killing of 10 Houthi fighters as they tried to board a merchant ship off the coast of Yemen by the Red Sea drove.
Pictured: An F35 jet is serviced on deck
HMS Diamond, a £1 billion Type 45 destroyer known as the jewel of the Royal Navy, blasted the targets with a barrage of Sea Viper missiles traveling three times the speed of sound
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
Houthi fighters overthrew the Yemeni government in 2014 – prompting Saudi Arabia to launch a military campaign against the rebels.
But attacks on Israel on October 7 have prompted them to attack Israeli, British and US ships in tense Middle East waters.
The UN Security Council passed a resolution on Wednesday calling on the Houthis to “immediately cease” their attacks.
The Houthi campaign, which rebels say only targets ships linked to Israel or its allies, has caused significant disruption, with many shipping companies opting for a much longer route around the tip of Africa for security reasons.
Washington said more than 20 nations have joined the U.S.-led Operation Prosperity Guardian to protect the vital sea route that normally carries about 12 percent of maritime trade.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is seen aboard his plane on Wednesday during his week-long trip to the Middle East
The Houthi leader said that “it is not a problem for Europeans, China and the whole world to travel through the Red Sea.”
“The sole and exclusive target are ships associated with Israel.”
However, he added that any government that joins military action against rebel naval forces would face reprisals.
“Those who want to interfere, attack our dear people and target the naval forces are actually risking their fleet and merchant ships,” Houthi warned.
“We hope that the rest of the Arab and Islamic countries never side with the Americans, Israelis and British.”
Since Israel launched its offensive in Gaza following the Hamas group's terrorist attack on October 7, ships passing through Yemen have been frequently attacked by Houthi rebels.
Shipping companies responded by rerouting their ships around South Africa to avoid the risk of the strait, at a cost of $1,020,020 per boat.