The war between Israel and Gaza live | The United States and the United Kingdom jointly bomb the Houthis in Yemen for the fourth time | international

The United States and Britain launch a new attack on the Houthis in Yemen

The United States and the United Kingdom bombed several Houthi rebel sites in Yemen on Saturday, marking the countries' fourth joint operation against the group, according to a joint statement.

The operation hit 18 “targets” in eight different locations in Yemen, including underground warehouses where the Houthis allegedly keep some of the missiles they use to attack ships in the Red Sea, according to the statement.

The bombings also hit air defense systems, radars, and a helicopter, according to the statement signed by the United States, the United Kingdom, and the six other countries that supported the operation (Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand). .

The attacks come in response to an increasing number of attacks carried out by the Iran-backed Houthis against various ships, including the firing of missiles at a British cargo ship and a US destroyer in the Red Sea, as well as against the coastal city of Eilat. In southern Israel.

This is the fourth joint attack launched by Washington and London against the Houthis. The first major retaliatory action against the rebels for their attacks in the Red Sea occurred on January 12, hitting 60 targets in Yemen.

Since this first joint bombing, the United States has launched several separate attacks against the Houthis, many against missiles that, according to Washington, pose an imminent threat to ships in the Red Sea.

The Houthis, an Iranian-backed militia that controls large areas of Yemen, have carried out numerous attacks in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait against ships they say are linked to or headed toward Israel.

The Houthis claim that their attacks are in response to the attack launched by Israel on the Gaza Strip after the attack launched by the Palestinian Hamas movement on October 7, 2023.

The violence raised fears that the war in Gaza, which has killed 29,600 people, could escalate into a regional war.

Moreover, these Houthi attacks could have a significant impact on the global economy because approximately 15% of global maritime trade flows through the Red Sea. (Effy)