A coalition led by the United States and the United Kingdom has launched a series of missile attacks against Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen. These strikes follow weeks of attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, which escalated in the aftermath of the conflict in Gaza.
Joe Biden stated that he authorized the strikes “in direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks against international maritime vessels in the Red Sea.”
The U.S. Central Command released the following statement on X:
On Jan. 11 at 2:30 a.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command forces, in coordination with the United Kingdom, and support from Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, and Bahrain conducted joint strikes on Houthi targets to degrade their capability to continue their illegal and reckless attacks on U.S. and international vessels and commercial shipping in the Red Sea. This multinational action targeted radar systems, air defense systems, and storage and launch sites for one way attack unmanned aerial systems, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles.
Since Oct. 17, 2023, Iranian-backed Houthi militants have attempted to attack and harass 27 ships in international shipping lanes. These illegal incidents include attacks that have employed anti-ship ballistic missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and cruise missiles in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. These strikes have no association with and are separate from Operation Prosperity Guardian, a defensive coalition of over 20 countries operating in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and Gulf of Aden.
Watch footage of the airstrikes below:
BREAKING: VIDEO OF MAJOR STRIKES IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS IN YEMEN pic.twitter.com/BKb8oWitKe
— Sulaiman Ahmed (@ShaykhSulaiman) January 11, 2024
Here’s a video showing airstrikes conducted by Typhoon jets after Britain and the United States conducted air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. pic.twitter.com/5hzanSX1dH
— UK Defence Journal (@UKDefJournal) January 12, 2024
The airstrikes carry the potential of entangling the United States in yet another foreign conflict.
Even Democrats are not happy with Biden’s decision, according to Fox News.
From Fox News:
Some House Democrats are frustrated with the Biden administration for striking Houthi positions in Yemen without Congressional approval on Thursday night.
“The President needs to come to Congress before launching a strike against the Houthis in Yemen and involving us in another middle east conflict,” Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., wrote on X. “That is Article I of the Constitution.
“I will stand up for that regardless of whether a Democrat or Republican is in the White House,” he added.
President Biden announced in a statement that the U.S. led a coordinated airstrike in Yemen with the U.K. and support from Canada, Australia and Bahrain.
He said the targets were “used by Houthi rebels to endanger freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most vital waterways.”
“These airstrikes have NOT been authorized by Congress. The Constitution is clear: Congress has the sole authority to authorize military involvement in overseas conflicts. Every president must first come to Congress and ask for military authorization, regardless of party,” Rep. Val Hoyle, D-Ore., wrote on X.
This is a developing story.
