The fresh offensive in Yemen follows US and Great Britain airstrikes on Houthi rebel positions. According to the US military, it is a radar system. Houthi media speak of a “series of attacks”.
The U.S. launched another overnight attack on Iran-backed Houthi rebel positions in Yemen. The US military said the target of the attack was a Houthi radar system.
“The attack was conducted by USS Carney (DDG 64) using Tomahawk missiles. It was a follow-up operation to a specific military target associated with the January 12 attacks. It was aimed at deterring the Houthi movement to 'attack maritime vessels,' including merchant ships,” the US Central Command said in a statement on X. , formerly Twitter.
The Houthi-run Al-Masira TV channel reported a “series of attacks” by the US and Britain in the early hours of the morning. At least one target was hit in the capital Sanaa.
The assessment of last night's military strikes is still ongoing
The United States and Great Britain, backed by other allies, launched a military offensive against the Houthis on Friday night. This was in response to repeated attacks by the Houthis on international merchant ships in the Red Sea.
The allies hit nearly 30 Houthi military positions in Friday night's strike, said Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims, who is in charge of military operations at the Pentagon. Evaluation is not yet complete. But he knows the insurgents' capacity for further attacks has weakened.
Sims said 150 types of explosives were used in the attacks. The Houthis said five of their members were killed in the attack. Six others were injured. The attacks hit the capital Sana'a and the provinces of Hudaydah, Taiz, Hajja and Saada.
The Houthis have announced that they will retaliate and continue to attack merchant ships in the Red Sea allegedly linked to Israel. Since the Gaza war broke out between Israel and the Islamist Hamas, the Houthis have repeatedly attacked ships in the Red Sea with alleged Israeli links. Large shipping companies are increasingly avoiding this route.
US Navy: Ships to avoid areas of Red Sea
Ahead of renewed attacks on Houthi positions in Yemen, the US Navy on Friday asked US-flagged ships to stay away from areas around Yemen in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden for the next 72 hours.
The US military and the White House said the Houthis were expecting a counterattack following an allied airstrike on their facilities in Yemen. US President Joe Biden signaled on Friday that the insurgents should prepare for further possible military strikes if their “rude behavior” continues.
Russia condemned the attacks at the UN Security Council
In the evening, Russia, which has been waging a large-scale, brutal war of aggression against Ukraine for nearly two years, strongly condemned US and Great Britain attacks on Houthi militia positions in Yemen at the UN Security Council emergency meeting. Council
British UN Ambassador Barbara Woodward said her country's armed forces had taken “limited, necessary and appropriate measures in self-defence”. “During this operation, particular care was taken to minimize the risk to the public.”
Guterres calls for compliance with UN resolution
US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the Security Council that no nation's ships are safe from Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. “Whether a ship flies the American flag or the flag of another country, all of our ships are vulnerable.” Thomas-Greenfield added that without Iran's support, Houthi rebels would be less able to attack merchant ships in the Red Sea.
The United Nations' most powerful body issued a resolution on Wednesday calling for an end to Houthi attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea and upholding the right of member states to defend ships against such attacks.
On Friday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on all parties to comply with the resolution. Guterres said in New York that Houthi attacks on merchant ships were unacceptable. The rebels must abide by a resolution passed by the UN Security Council this week calling for an immediate end to these attacks.
At the same time, all UN member states protecting their ships must adhere to international law as set out in the resolution, Guterres continued. He appealed to all concerned not to aggravate the situation further.
US: Don't seek conflict with Iran
After the bombings, the United States vowed not to move toward armed conflict with Tehran. “We're not looking for a conflict with Iran. We're not looking for escalation,” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told MSNBC television. Kirby added that there was “no reason” for the situation to escalate beyond the development of the “last few days”.
Iran strongly condemned the attack on Houthi positions. Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Khanani called the attack an “arbitrary move”, a “violation” of international law and a violation of Yemen's sovereignty. Militants threatened retaliation after the attacks.
US imposes sanctions
On Friday, the US government imposed further sanctions in response to a series of attacks on merchant ships. The actions targeted four merchant ships and two companies based in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates, the US Treasury Department announced. The U.S. accuses the Houthis of paying the Houthis through the sale of Iranian goods.
“The United States continues to target illicit Iranian financial networks that fund the Houthis and facilitate their attacks,” the US government said. “We will take all available measures to stop these disruptive Houthi activities and their threats to global trade.”
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in the Yemeni city of Sana'a after US and other allied attacks.
Mass demonstrations in Yemen
On Friday, tens of thousands of people took to the streets in the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, to demonstrate against attacks by the US, Britain and other allies against Houthi positions in Yemen. Houthi-affiliated al-Masira TV channel showed images of tens of thousands of people gathered in the capital, Sana'a. Angry demonstrators: “We will not give up, let there be a great world war!”
Sana'a is under the control of Houthi militias. Demonstrations were also reported in the rebel stronghold of Sada in the north of the country. Over the past few weeks, protests have been taking place in Yemen's Houthi-controlled areas. The insurgents continue to call for rallies after Friday prayers.
Ralf Borchard, ARD Washington, tagesschau, January 13, 2024 5:43 am
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