New military offensives initiated by the United States and United Kingdom target Houthis

The United States and the United Kingdom have initiated joint airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, according to two US defense officials who spoke to CBS News, a partner of the BBC. The airstrikes are focused on various targets, including radars. The Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, have been targeting ships that they claim are connected to Israel and pass through the important Red Sea trade route. The US and UK have previously expressed their efforts to protect this trade route. This is the eighth airstrike by the US against Houthi targets in Yemen, and the second joint operation with the UK. US fighter jets from the aircraft carrier Eisenhower were reported to have participated in the strikes. Previous airstrikes had primarily targeted individual missiles that the Houthis were preparing to launch. The decision for the joint operation follows a conversation between US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The White House stated that they discussed the ongoing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and emphasized their commitment to freedom of navigation, international commerce, and the defense of mariners against illegal attacks. Additional topics of discussion included increasing humanitarian aid and civilian protection in Gaza, as well as securing the release of hostages held by Hamas. The Houthis commenced attacking merchant vessels in response to Israel's military ground operation in Gaza and have since launched numerous attacks on commercial tankers passing through the Red Sea, a major international shipping route. In response, the US and UK, with support from other countries such as Australia, Bahrain, the Netherlands, and Canada, carried out a series of airstrikes against multiple Houthi targets on January 11th. These airstrikes were conducted after the Houthi forces disregarded an ultimatum to cease their attacks in the region.