The IDF reported that deaths occurred when militants fired a rocket-propelled grenade while soldiers were preparing explosives to demolish buildings. For the full report on the latest round of US and UK strikes, Reged Ahmad is taking over the blog from Jem Bartholomew.
US Central Command (Centcom) has shared new video and images of their airstrikes against Yemen’s Houthis.
The US conducted its eighth round of airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen on Monday at 11:59 pm local time. According to a Pentagon statement, the bombing was deemed proportionate and necessary.
US military officials confirmed the success of the strikes, with ”good impacts” in all eight locations. The strikes were in response to increased Houthi destabilizing and illegal activities, as stated by US Central Command.
The UK joined the airstrikes for the second time in ten days, with Defense Secretary Grant Shapps justifying the attacks as “self-defense” and in the interest of degrading Houthi capabilities.
In response to the airstrikes, a Houthi spokesman took to Twitter to declare that the attacks would only strengthen the Yemeni people’s determination. The UK and US were accused of protecting “perpetrators” of “genocide” in Gaza.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak did not brief Labour leader Keir Starmer or House of Commons speaker Lindsay Hoyle ahead of the strikes, similar to the previous instance ten days ago.
The operation targeted a Houthi underground storage site, missile, and air surveillance sites, as confirmed by the Pentagon. The UK Ministry of Defence also stated its involvement in hitting multiple targets at two military sites with guided precision bombs near Sana’a airfield.
Backed by Iran, the Houthi rebels have disrupted the global commercial shipping route in the Red Sea, citing support for Palestine amid Israel’s bombardment of Gaza. However, their attacks have also targeted ships with no connection to Israel.
Following a call between Sunak and US President Joe Biden, the leaders discussed further “disrupting and degrading Houthi capabilities,” according to a US spokesperson.
The UK’s involvement on Monday appeared to be smaller than the previous strikes on January 11. This time, there were eight strikes, as per a joint Pentagon statement with Australia, Bahrain, Canada, the UK, and the Netherlands, which supported the latest military action.
Source: www.theguardian.com
Published on: 2024-01-23 04:48:16
