New airstrikes: US and partners attack Houthi positions in Yemen Trump trial for attempted election fraud should start later than planned

With help from other countries 36 targets of the Houthi militia, which is also supported by Iran, were attacked in 13 locations in Yemen the US Department of Defense announced on Saturday evening (local time) in Washington. It is the third joint British-American military operation against the Houthis in recent weeks. He follows up extensive retaliatory attacks by Americans against militias in Iraq and Syria the night before. The rapid succession of military actions shows US efforts to put an end to the growing chaos in the Middle East.

Since the start of the Gaza war between Israel and the Islamist terrorist organization Hamas, the Houthis have repeatedly attacked merchant ships in the Red Sea. The militia acts in solidarity with Hamas and targets cargo ships with alleged Israeli connections off the Yemeni coast. Given the dangers, major shipping companies are increasingly avoiding the shortest sea route between Asia and Europe via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. This is now having a significant impact on the global economy.

The action against the Houthis

In addition to the US and Britain, Australia, Bahrain, Denmark, Canada, New Zealand and the Netherlands supported the campaign, it was said. The stated goal of the US and its partners is to weaken the military capabilities of the militant Islamist Houthis and thus protect the important shipping route.

A joint statement from the countries involved said: Targets under attack in Yemen include weapons depots, missile systems, launchers and air defense systems. The Houthi attacks on merchant and naval vessels pose an international challenge.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said in a written statement: “This joint action sends a clear message to the Houthis that they will face further consequences if they do not cease their illegal attacks on international shipping and naval vessels.” He stressed: “We will not hesitate to defend life and free trade on one of the world’s most important waterways.”

British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said the military operation was not an escalation of the situation. Instead, innocent lives must be protected and freedom of navigation on the Red Sea must be preserved. A statement from the British Ministry of Defense read: The evening airstrikes were carefully planned to minimize the risk of civilian casualties.

As with previous US strikes on targets in Yemen, the Houthis reiterated that they would continue their attacks in the region. The bombings “will not change our position,” said Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Politburo of the militant Houthi movement. “We will respond to escalation with escalation.”

Retaliation in Iraq and Syria

The action against the Houthis followed a major military attack by the Americans the day before. On Saturday evening, the US military carried out extensive airstrikes on pro-Iranian militia positions in Iraq and Syria. US forces bombed more than 85 targets at seven locations in both countries from the air – including command centers, intelligence sites and weapons depots that, according to US information, were used by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and affiliated militias. The US responded to a deadly attack by pro-Iranian militias a few days earlier, killing three American soldiers in Jordan, near the Syrian border.

US President Joe Biden had promised retaliation for the deaths of American soldiers and made it clear after Saturday evening’s airstrikes that this was just the beginning and that further military actions would follow. At the same time, Biden emphasized that the United States does not want a new conflict in the Middle East.

Since the start of the Gaza war, pro-Iranian militias have carried out almost daily attacks on US military bases in Iraq and Syria. The US government has already responded with airstrikes in both countries, albeit on a smaller scale than the joint action this weekend. (lacquer/sda/dpa)