U.S. officials said late Thursday night that dozens of Iranian-backed Houthi targets were struck inside Yemen in response to the terrorist group’s months-long attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea.
The strikes were launched in coordination with the United Kingdom, and with support from Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, and Bahrain, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement.
“This multinational action targeted radar systems, air defense systems, and storage and launch sites for one way attack unmanned aerial systems, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles,” the statement said. “These strikes have no association with and are separate from Operation Prosperity Guardian, a defensive coalition of over 20 countries operating in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and Gulf of Aden.”
General Michael Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM Commander, said that the U.S. military would “hold the Houthi militants and their destabilizing Iranian sponsors responsible for the illegal, indiscriminate, and reckless attacks on international shipping that have impacted 55 nations so far, including endangering the lives of hundreds of mariners, including the United States.”
“Their illegal and dangerous actions will not be tolerated, and they will be held accountable,” he emphasized.
On Jan. 11 at 2:30 a.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command forces, in coordination with the United Kingdom, and support from Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, and Bahrain conducted joint strikes on Houthi targets to degrade their capability to continue their illegal and… pic.twitter.com/bR8biMolSx
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 12, 2024
U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, U.S. Air Forces Central and Combined Forces Air Component Commander
Ninth Air Force, said that U.S. forces “executed deliberate strikes on over 60 targets at 16 Iranian-backed Houthi militant locations, including command and control nodes, munitions depots, launching systems, production facilities, and air defense radar systems.”
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Grynkewich said that more than 100 precision-guided munitions of various types were used in the strikes and that missiles were fired from submarines.
The U.K. deployed four RAF Typhoon jets during the operation, which were accompanied by two air-to-air refuelling tankers.
British and US forces have launched an attack on Houthi targets in Yemen after the Iranian-backed group defied a warning to stop targeting ships in the Red Sea.
The MOD has confirmed that the RAF was involved in strikes at two locations in Yemen.https://t.co/ufevSpc5uO pic.twitter.com/K6glFro3Kh
— Sky News (@SkyNews) January 12, 2024