US Carries Out Another Strike Against Houthi Forces, Yemen Groups Vow Retaliation
The US has carried out a fresh strike against Yemen's Houthi forces following which the forces have sworn retaliation.
The US carried out an additional strike against Yemen's Houthi forces on Friday after President Joe Biden's government vowed to protect shipping in the Red Sea. As per a US official, the strike targeted a radar site and it came just a day after dozens of US and British strikes on the Iran-backed group's facilities. One of the key targets of the US military in attempts to halt Houthi attacks has been the radar infrastructure, as reported by news agency Reuters. The group has sworn retaliation in response to the attacks
As per the Houthi movement's television channel Al-Masirah, the US and Britain were targeting the Yemeni capital Sanaa with raids.
US and British warplanes, submarines, ships on Thursday launched missiles against targets across Yemen controlled by Houthi groups which has cast its maritime campaign as support for Palestinians who have been on the receiving end of attacks in Israel-Hamas war.
Houthi leaders swore retaliation despite Biden's warning of ordering more strikes if they don't stop their attacks on merchant and military vessels in one of the world's most economically vital waterways, Y Net news reported.
Biden on Friday said, "We will make sure that we respond to the Houthis if they continue this outrageous behaviour."
As per the news agency, witnesses have confirmed explosions at military bases near airports in Sanaa and Taiz, a naval base at Yemen's main Red Sea port Hodeidah and military sites in the coastal Hajjah governorate.
White House spokesperson John Kirby said that the strikes had impacted the Houthis' ability to store, launch and guide missiles or drones, which the group has used in past few months to threaten Red Sea shipping. Meanwhile, the Pentagon said that the US-British assault reduced the Houthis' capacity to launch fresh attacks.
Reuters cited US military as saying that around 60 targets were hit in 28 sites.
As per Houthis, five fighters were killed, but they vowed to continue their attacks on regional shipping. Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a member of the Houthi Supreme Political Council said, "Your strikes on Yemen are terrorism. The United States is the Devil."