Retaliation against Houthis in the 'Red Sea'! US President Biden: Airstrikes conducted

US President Joe Biden issued a written statement regarding the airstrikes targeting the Houthis, who have continued their attacks in the Red Sea.

In his statement, Biden said, "Today, at my direction, US military forces—together with the United Kingdom and with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands—successfully conducted strikes against a number of targets in Yemen used by Houthi rebels."

Stating that the strikes were a direct retaliation for the Houthis' actions in the Red Sea, Biden noted that they responded with an international coalition to a series of attacks, the latest of which occurred on January 9, where the Houthis directly targeted American ships.

"A CLEAR MESSAGE"

Highlighting both the US-led naval force established in the region and the approach formed within the international community against the Houthis, Biden recalled the resolution adopted by the United Nations Security Council the previous day, which called for an end to Houthi attacks.

"These strikes are a clear message that the United States and our partners will not tolerate attacks on our personnel or allow hostile actors to imperil freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most critical commercial routes," Biden said, emphasizing that he would not hesitate to take further measures if necessary.

12 TARGETS STRUCK

Some American officials speaking to the US media reported that US and British military forces struck at least 12 Houthi targets, and that the attacks were carried out using fighter jets and Tomahawk missiles.

DETAILS OF THE ATTACK

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, who also made a statement on the matter, noted that they targeted Houthi unmanned aerial vehicles, ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as radar and surveillance capabilities.

Austin stated that the US reserves the right to strike the Houthis in Yemen "as necessary" in the future and that ensuring the stable continuation of shipping traffic in the Red Sea is their priority.

YEMEN'S CLAIMS

A senior US defense official, who held a briefing by phone regarding the attack, rejected the claim that Yemen had targeted any US or British fighter jet or warship.

The official stated, "We have not seen any response from the Houthis at this time."

THE RED SEA ISSUE

Recently, following the actions of the Houthis in Yemen against commercial ships in response to Israel's attacks on Gaza, many shipping companies had decided to suspend their voyages in the Red Sea.

The Pentagon announced on December 6, 2023, that they were holding talks to establish an international "Maritime Task Force" against the attacks by Houthi forces in Yemen on commercial ships in the Red Sea, and on December 18, they announced the creation of a multinational mission called "Operation Prosperity Guardian."

While the Houthi attacks endanger passage through the Suez Canal—which connects the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, offers the shortest route between Europe and Asia, and handles approximately 12 percent of global trade—the attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea and the successive decisions made by companies have increased concerns that a new "supply chain crisis" could begin in the global economy.