US and Britain attack Houthi positions in Yemen – the most important in 7 points Desperate Putin calls for help: more and more heating systems are failing in Russia

What happened?

The US and Britain, with the support of allies, “successfully” attacked the positions of Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen on Friday evening. The military strike was a “direct response to the Houthis’ unprecedented attacks” on international shipping in the Red Sea, US President Joe Biden said in a written statement. He will not hesitate to order further measures if necessary.

Britain’s Ministry of Defense said allied forces had identified key Houthi facilities. The detailed results of the attacks are currently being assessed, but there are signs that a blow has been dealt to the Houthis’ ability to threaten commercial shipping.

Are there any details about the objectives?

According to the US military, more than 60 targets at 16 Houthi military locations were attacked. These include command and control points, ammunition depots, missile launch facilities, manufacturing facilities and air defense radar systems, the US Air Force said in a statement.

The attacks were carried out from the air as well as from ships and submarines. Tomahawk cruise missiles were also used. The Ministry of Defense in London said four Eurofighters had carried out attacks on two targets in the northwest of the country.

The Houthis said five of their members were killed in the attacks. Six others were injured. The attacks hit the capital Sanaa and the provinces of Hudaida, Tais, Hajjah and Saada.

What is the history?

Since the outbreak of the Gaza war between Israel and the Islamist Hamas, the Houthis have repeatedly attacked ships with alleged Israeli connections in the Red Sea. Large shipping companies are increasingly avoiding the route. The Houthis also repeatedly attack Israel directly with drones and missiles. There have been increasing signs of a response from the US, Britain and allies recently.

Just a few days ago, the Houthis carried out a major drone and missile attack on ships in the Red Sea. As the responsible American regional command announced, eighteen drones and three missiles were intercepted by American and British units.

According to information from Washington, the Houthis have carried out more than 20 attacks on international merchant ships in the Red Sea since November 19 – for the first time they also used an anti-ship ballistic missile. According to information, more than 2,000 ships have already had to make a detour of thousands of kilometers.

Who took part in the attack?

In addition to the US and Britain, Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands also took part in the military strike, a senior government official in Washington said. The attacks focused on those positions that are of particular importance to the rebels in their attacks on merchant ships because they store missiles, radar technology or drones there. The aim was to weaken the Houthis, not to escalate the situation, he stressed.

Given the increasing number of attacks, the US military had already increased its cooperation with the armed forces of other countries in the region in mid-December. According to the US Department of Defense, more than 20 countries are participating in a new security initiative called ‘Operation Prosperity Guardian’.

How is the attack justified?

The government official said the rebels’ attacks on international shipping were unwarranted and unlawful. “Indiscriminately targeting” ships has nothing to do with Israel – and even if it does, there is no justification for attacking ships in international waters. The US, Britain and their allies decided to take this step after careful consideration and diplomatic efforts.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin called the military attack a clear signal. “We will not hesitate to defend our armed forces, the global economy and the free flow of legitimate commerce on one of the world’s most important waterways.”Austin continued.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also spoke of “targeted attacks”. “Despite repeated warnings from the international community, the Houthis have continued to carry out attacks in the Red Sea this week, including on British and American warships. This cannot be tolerated,” said a statement from the British news agency PA.

About ten percent of all world trade passes through the Red Sea. The Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea and is the shortest sea route between Asia and Europe. The alternative route around the South African Cape of Good Hope extends transport by several days.

How do the Houthis respond?

The Houthi rebels announced revenge after the military attack. “America and Britain will have to be prepared to pay a high price,” a rebel representative told the Houthi television channel Al Massirah on Friday evening. Yemen was “subjected to a massive aggressive attack by American and British ships, submarines and warplanes.”

Even after the military attack by the US and its allies, they want to continue attacking ships with alleged Israeli connections in the Red Sea.

“There is absolutely no justification for the aggression against Yemen as there was no threat to international shipping in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea,” a rebel spokesman told Houthi television channel Al Massirah on Friday. The target is still “Israeli ships or ships visiting the ports of occupied Palestine.”

The Shiite Houthi rebels have taken over large parts of northern Yemen during their ongoing insurgency since 2014, including controlling the capital Sanaa. The rebels are backed by Shiite-majority Iran.

What reactions came from abroad?

Russia has requested a special meeting of the UN Security Council for Friday on the airstrikes by the US and its allies on the Houthi rebels in Yemen. This was announced by the Russian mission to the United Nations in New York, the Interfax agency reported. The meeting should start at 3 p.m. local time in New York (9 p.m. CET), the representation wrote on its Telegram channel.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has strongly condemned the military attack on the Houthi rebels it supports in Yemen. The attack was a clear violation of Yemen’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and a violation of international law, state news agency IRNA Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said on Friday. “These indiscriminate attacks will have no effect other than fueling insecurity and instability in the region.”

(sda/dpa/mlu/rbu)