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The United Kingdom, in conjunction with United States forces, executed aerial assaults against Yemen’s Houthi insurgents, officials disclosed early Wednesday. The operation marked the UK’s initial involvement in Washington’s bolstered offensive targeting the Iran-supported group.
The RAF’s Role in the Recent Air Strikes
The United Kingdom provided a comprehensive rationale for the assault, contrasting with the US, which has offered scant information about the over 1,000 targets it claims to have struck since initiating its campaign on March 15. This ongoing military initiative, dubbed “Operation Rough Rider,” is aimed at the rebels as the Trump administration engages in negotiations with their principal backer, Iran, over Tehran’s advancing nuclear capabilities.
Targeted Site near Yemeni Capital
The UK Defense Ministry identified the location assaulted as “a collection of structures, utilized by the Houthis to produce drones deployed in attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, situated approximately 15 miles south of Sanaa.”
Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s participated in the raid, deploying Paveway IV guided munitions, the ministry disclosed.
The ministry stated, “The strike was executed after dusk, when the probability of civilians being present in the vicinity was further diminished.”
The British authorities did not provide specifics about the damage inflicted in the strike nor confirm whether any casualties were sustained.
US Military’s Stance and Impact
The US Central Command neither confirmed nor denied the strike. UK Defense Secretary John Healey asserted, “This measure was undertaken in response to the Houthis’ persistent threat to the freedom of navigation.”
“A 55% reduction in shipping through the Red Sea has already incurred billions in costs, exacerbating regional turmoil and jeopardizing economic security for families in the UK,” he added.
The Houthis reported multiple strikes around Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, which the group has controlled since 2014. Additional raids were reported near the city of Saada.
The British have collaborated in airstrikes alongside the US since the Biden administration commenced its offensive against the Houthis in January of the previous year. Nevertheless, this latest strike represents the first instance of British involvement under the presidency of Donald Trump.
UK-RAF Operations Amidst Controversial US Strikes
Most Recent Strikes
The coordinated UK-US assault follows a putative US airstrike on Monday, which struck a detention center housing African migrants, resulting in at least 68 fatalities and 47 injuries. The US military is conducting an investigation into the incident.
On April 18, an American strike on the Ras Isa fuel terminal led to at least 74 fatalities and 171 injuries in the deadliest documented attack of the US campaign.
The US-Led Offensive
The US initiates strikes on Yemen from its two aircraft carriers in the vicinity—the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea and the USS Carl Vinson in the Arabian Sea. These operations target the Houthis due to the group’s attacks on maritime vessels in the Red Sea, a vital global trade corridor, and on Israel.
The Houthis constitute the final militant faction within Iran’s self-described “Axis of Resistance” capable of regularly launching assaults on Israel. The insurgents initiated their attacks in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip and Israel’s decision to obstruct the flow of aid to Palestinians.
Controversy Surrounding US Strikes
The American strikes have sparked debate within the United States due to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s use of the unclassified Signal messaging app to share sensitive details about the attacks.
Early Thursday, Hegseth issued a direct threat to Iran via a message on the social platform X. “Message to Iran: We observe your lethal support to the Houthis. We are fully aware of your actions,” he wrote. “You are well acquainted with the US Military’s capabilities—and you have been warned. You will face the consequences at a time and place of our choosing.”