The United States confirmed this Thursday that it had carried it out a joint military operation with the support of several countries against the Houthi rebels in Yemen after attacks on boats in the Red Sea increased.
President, Joe Bidensaid in a statement that under his leadership, US forces, together with the United Kingdom and with the support of Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands, carried out successful attacks against several targets used by the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
According to EFE, the bombings hit various positions in Sanaa, while witnesses reported that airstrikes also occurred in Al province Hudeidah Saada, Dhamar, Taiz and Hajjah, They are all located in western Yemen and are controlled by the Houthi rebels.
“Our country has been the subject of massive attacks by American and British ships, submarines and warplanes, and there is no doubt that the United States and Britain will be prepared to pay a heavy price,” said Houthi Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein al Ezzi. He also threatened that both Washington and London “will bear the terrible consequences of this blatant aggression.”
According to witnesses interviewed by Efe, two of the bombings in Sanaa targeted the Al Dailami airbase, located at the capital's airport, while two other airstrikes in Taiz hit military positions and also the airfield.
In the port city HodeidaFrom there, the Houthis launched most of their attacks on merchant ships. The bombings targeted various positions near their airport, and some military barracks in the city of Saada also suffered from the effects of the attacks.
The military action comes in response to the “unprecedented” attacks by the Houthi rebels, who this Thursday fired a ballistic missile to hit shipping lanes in the Gulf of Aden, a strategic route for the transport of oil from the Persian Gulf.
“These attacks put American personnel at riskCivilian Marines and our partners have endangered trade and threatened freedom of navigation,” the US President warned.
The latest Houthi attack occurred around 2 a.m. Sanaa time (03:00 GMT) on January 11, US Central Command (Centcom) reported in a statement.
Although it did not cause any damage to a merchant ship, it increased the concerns of countries using this trade route.
The President noted that this is the twenty-seventh attack by the Houthis on merchant ships transiting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. “The international community’s response to these reckless attacks has been united and decisive,” he stressed.
Biden said more than 50 nations were affected and crews from more than 20 countries were threatened or taken hostage in acts of piracy.
In addition, more than 2,000 ships have been forced to reroute thousands of kilometers to avoid the Red Sea, potentially causing weeks of delays in product shipping times.
“I will not hesitate to order additional measures if necessary to protect our people and the free flow of international trade,” said the US President.
Major shipping companies worldwide continue to adjust their routes to avoid transit through this sea route, which carries almost 15% of global maritime trade, including 8% of global grain trade, 12% of oil trade and 8% of global maritime trade. % of world trade in liquefied natural gas.
For his part, Ali al Quhom, a member of the Houthi Politburo, said in
“The fight will be greater and will exceed the imagination and expectations of the Americans and the British. It is an open war,” said the insurgent leader, who assured that the US and UK “will regret their attack”.
In support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, Iran-backed Shiite Houthi rebels have been attacking ships in the Red Sea that they say are linked to Israel since November 19.