– Houthi rebels casualties in US-British airstrikes in Yemen
– Joint military operation against Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Recent joint British-U.S. airstrikes targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels have resulted in the deaths of at least 16 individuals and left 42 others wounded, according to statements made by the rebels on Friday. These strikes, carried out in response to the rebels’ attacks on shipping, represent the highest publicly acknowledged death toll from the multiple rounds of airstrikes.
Three U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the strikes as targeting a range of underground facilities, missile launchers, command and control sites, as well as a Houthi vessel and other facilities. The airstrikes were a direct response to a recent surge in attacks by the Iran-backed militia group on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The U.S. F/A-18 fighter jets involved in the airstrikes took off from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier in the Red Sea, with other U.S. warships in the region also participating in the operation.
The Houthis have focused their attention on a strike that reportedly hit a building housing Hodeida Radio and civilian homes in the port city on the Red Sea. Images broadcasted by their Al Masirah satellite news channel showed a bloodied man being carried down stairs and individuals in the hospital receiving aid. The Houthis claim that all the casualties, both dead and wounded, resulted from this particular strike.
Houthi Response and Allegations
The Houthis have labelled all those killed and injured in Hodeida as civilians, although this assertion has not been independently verified by The Associated Press. The rebel force, which has controlled Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, since 2014, comprises fighters who often do not wear uniforms.
Additional strikes were reported outside of Sanaa near its airport, as well as on communication equipment in Taiz, with little information released on these sites. These strikes likely targeted Houthi military installations. One individual was reportedly wounded in Sanaa.
Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam condemned the airstrikes, linking them to Yemen’s support for Gaza and Israel’s actions in the region. Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, another Houthi official, issued threats of further retaliation against the U.S. and U.K. in response to the airstrikes.
International Response
Yemen’s military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, provided the casualty figures and alleged, without evidence, that the rebels targeted the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in response with drones and ballistic missiles. A U.S. defense official, speaking anonymously, stated that the aircraft carrier was unharmed.
In the United Kingdom, the Defense Ministry confirmed that Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s conducted strikes on Hodeida and further south in Ghulayfiqah. The targets included buildings housing drone ground control facilities, storage for long-range drones, and surface-to-air weapons.
U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak justified the strikes as self-defence against the ongoing threat posed by the Houthis. The U.S. and the U.K. have conducted airstrikes against the Houthis since January, with the U.S. launching multiple strikes in recent months.
Escalating Tensions
The Houthis have escalated their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, demanding an end to the conflict in Gaza, which has seen a high number of casualties. Since November, the Houthis have carried out over 50 attacks on shipping, resulting in the death of three sailors, the seizure of one vessel, and the sinking of another.
This week, they targeted a ship carrying grain to Iran, their main supporter. In a separate incident, a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone crashed in Yemen, with the Houthis claiming responsibility for shooting it down. The U.S. Air Force did not report any missing aircraft, leading to speculation that the drone may have been operated by the CIA.
As tensions continue to rise in the region, the situation remains volatile, with both sides prepared to respond to any further provocations.
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Lolita C. Baldor reported from Washington.
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Houthi rebels killed and wounded in US-British airstrikes in Yemen.
