SANAA: The United States conducted a new strike on a Houthi radar site in Yemen on Saturday as the group warned of further attacks on Israeli-linked ships in the Red Sea. This follows the joint military action by US and UK forces the previous day, targeting various locations across the country.
The Houthi group has been increasingly carrying out missile and drone attacks in the crucial Red Sea international trade route, with claims of targeting Israeli-linked shipping. The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the entrance to the Red Sea, witnesses around 12 percent of global trade.
The recent violence in Yemen, coupled with tensions in the wider region due to the Israel-Hamas conflict, has raised fears of a broader regional conflict. Analysts suggest that while Western strikes may diminish the Houthi threat, they are unlikely to completely halt rebel activities.
In response to the strikes, the Houthi leadership declared that all American and British interests are now “legitimate targets,” emphasizing their determination to continue attacks.
UN Security Council Urges Houthis to Cease Attacks
The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting to address the situation, reiterating its call for the Houthis to cease attacks on ships. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged all parties to avoid escalation for the sake of regional peace and stability.
The US Central Command described the Saturday strike as a “follow-on action” related to the previous day’s operations, emphasizing its specific targeting of a military site. President Joe Biden termed the strikes a successful “defensive action” and warned of further measures.
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized the US and UK strikes as disproportionate. The economic cost of the conflict is also evident, with tanker firms suspending transit through the Red Sea and oil prices experiencing fluctuations.
