US and Britain bomb Houthi positions in Yemen Front situation in Ukraine “remains difficult” +++ Thousands of Swiss show solidarity

US and British forces have again attacked Houthi militia positions in Yemen. With the support of other countries, eighteen targets of the Iran-backed militia were attacked at eight locations in Yemen on Sunday evening, the US Department of Defense announced in Washington on Saturday (local time). The US and Britain responded to the Houthis’ continued attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. The Pentagon said the targets included underground Houthi weapons depots, missile depots, drones, air defense systems and radar systems.

It is the fourth joint British-American military operation against the militia in recent weeks. According to their own statements, the Houthis are acting in solidarity with the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip and want to put an end to Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip by shelling merchant ships. These are a response to the Hamas terror attack on October 7 in the Israeli border area.

The sea route through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal is one of the most important trade routes in the world. Due to the attacks by the Houthis armed by Iran, major shipping companies are increasingly avoiding the shortest sea connection between Asia and Europe. The US carries out strikes almost daily to eliminate Houthi targets, including missiles and drones aimed at ships and weapons ready to be fired.

In addition to the US and Britain, Australia, Bahrain, Denmark, Canada, New Zealand and the Netherlands also supported the military attack on Saturday, it was said. The coalition’s stated goal is to weaken the military capabilities of the militant Islamist Houthis and thus protect the important shipping route. The Houthi attacks pose an international challenge, the report said in a joint statement. Since mid-November, the Houthis have carried out more than 45 attacks on commercial and naval vessels.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said they would not hesitate to take further action to protect lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the world’s most important waterways. “We will continue to make it clear to the Houthis that they will face consequences if they do not stop their illegal attacks, which are damaging the Middle East’s economy, causing environmental damage and disrupting the delivery of humanitarian aid to Yemen and other countries. ”

Only on Saturday did the US military warn of an environmental disaster in the Red Sea after a Houthi missile attack on a cargo ship. An oil slick almost 30 kilometers long had formed, US regional command Centcom said. The ship was at anchor and slowly filling with water. The “Rubymar”, registered in Britain, was carrying about 41,000 tons of fertilizer, which could end up in the Red Sea and worsen an environmental disaster. The ship flies the flag of Belize.

The EU is also participating in a military operation in the Red Sea, but this is purely defensive. The Bundestag gave the go-ahead for this on Friday. The German frigate “Hessen” had already left Wilhelmshaven for the operations area more than two weeks ago in order to fulfill its mission immediately after the decision of the Bundestag. A total of 18 countries are involved in the operation. In addition to Germany, Belgium, Italy and France are sending ships to the Red Sea. (sda/dpa)