Escalating Tensions: U.S. Strikes Houthi Radar Site in Yemen Amidst Rising Conflict

By Nilaris Roberts

Updated: January 13, 2024 10:42 AM EST

Mohammed Huwais/AFP/Getty Images

In a dramatic turn of events, American forces conducted another airstrike on a Houthi-controlled site in Yemen early Saturday, confirming the ongoing military response to the Iranian-backed rebel group's assault on shipping vessels in the Red Sea.

U.S. Central Command reported that the USS Carney, a destroyer, executed the strike at 3:45 a.m. local time using Tomahawk missiles on a Houthi radar site. The airstrike followed the joint efforts of the U.S. and U.K., launching strikes on dozens of targets in Houthi-controlled Yemen just the day before.

Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Sims II, director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, revealed that Friday's strikes utilized more than 150 precision-guided munitions to hit nearly 30 locations, targeting critical infrastructure of the Houthi rebels. Despite these efforts, the Houthi movement's Supreme Political Council vowed to persist in targeting commercial ships in the Red Sea.

President Biden, addressing the situation during a small business tour in Allentown, Pennsylvania, emphasized the U.S. commitment to responding to Houthi provocations alongside allies. Thousands of demonstrators in Sanaa expressed their opposition, burning U.S. flags and chanting anti-American slogans.

April Gamiz/ The Morning Call

A joint statement from the U.S., U.K., Australia, Bahrain, Canada, the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea clarified that the strikes aimed to counter the

"continued illegal, dangerous, and destabilizing Houthi attacks against vessels."

The conflict's impact on shipping in the Red Sea was highlighted, with at least 28 attacks from Houthi-controlled areas prompting major shipping companies to reroute around all of Africa instead of using the Suez Canal. The recent escalation included a substantial attack by Houthi rebels on Jan. 9, thwarted by U.S. and U.K. forces patrolling the Red Sea.

Amid accusations against Tehran's involvement in Houthi attacks, the U.S. government confirmed Iranian forces' direct seizure of an oil tanker carrying U.S.-sanctioned crude oil off the coast of Oman. The Biden administration's focus on preventing a wider regional conflict contrasts with Iranian-backed proxies launching attacks in various theaters.

As tensions continue to rise, the situation in Yemen remains a critical focal point, with implications for broader regional stability and international relations.

Sources:

CNN,Reuters,CBS