The United States conducted an additional strike on Yemen’s Houthi forces on Friday, as part of President Joe Biden’s commitment to safeguarding shipping in the Red Sea. The radar site was targeted in this latest strike, following a series of US and British strikes on facilities belonging to the Iran-backed group. The US officials, speaking anonymously, did not provide further details, but radar infrastructure has been a primary focus in the US military’s efforts to counter Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.
Al-Masirah, the Houthi movement’s television channel, reported that the US and Britain were carrying out raids on the Yemeni capital, Sanaa. The airstrikes across Yemen by US and British warplanes, ships, and submarines have raised concerns about a potential regional conflict. The Houthi leaders have promised retaliation, while President Biden warned that he could order more strikes if the attacks on merchant and military vessels persist in one of the world’s most crucial waterways.
Witnesses reported explosions near military bases in Sanaa, Taiz, Hodeidah, and the coastal Hajjah governorate. The strikes aimed to disrupt the Houthis’ ability to store, launch, and guide missiles or drones, which they have used to threaten shipping in the Red Sea. The US military claimed to have hit 60 targets in 28 sites, reducing the Houthi group’s capacity to launch new attacks. However, the Houthis vowed to continue targeting regional shipping.
A missile reportedly landed in the sea near a ship southeast of the Yemeni port of Aden, and it was identified as a Panama-flagged tanker carrying Russian oil. Drone footage on al-Masirah TV showed large crowds in Sanaa denouncing Israel and the United States. Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a member of the Houthi Supreme Political Council, condemned the US strikes as terrorism.
The Red Sea crisis is seen as an extension of the Israeli-Hamas conflict in Gaza, with the Houthis presenting themselves as supporters of the Palestinian cause. However, experts suggest that their primary concern is retaining power. The US defended the strikes at the United Nations Security Council, emphasizing their aim to disrupt and degrade the Houthis’ attacks on vessels and commercial shipping.
The strikes have raised concerns about potential disruptions to oil supplies, leading to an initial increase in Brent crude oil prices. Biden expressed his worries about the impact of Middle East conflicts on oil prices. Commercial ship-tracking data indicated that several oil tankers had halted or changed routes in the Red Sea. Houthi fighters have previously targeted ships they claimed were Israeli or heading for Israel, causing commercial vessels to take longer and costlier routes.
While the US and some allies supported the strikes in Yemen, major countries such as Italy, Spain, and France chose not to participate, fearing further escalation. The US has accused Iran of providing military capabilities and intelligence to the Houthi group. Iran condemned the strikes but showed no signs of seeking direct conflict. Houthi attacks have already forced commercial ships to take longer routes, leading to concerns about inflation and supply chain disruption.
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