The forces are targeting multiple Houthi locations with fighter jets and navy destroyers, with ships firing Tomahawk cruise missiles, and there are reports that submarines are also being used.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the RAF carried out targeted strikes against Houthi rebels due to their “reckless actions risking lives at sea”, while US President Joe Biden warned he “would not hesistate to direct further measures”.
Sources said “many” British and American jets were noted as entering Yemeni airspace earlier. The military targets included logistical hubs, air defense systems, and weapons storage locations. The full scale of the strikes is not yet clear.
This marks the first offensive action taken against the Houthis since its fighters began targeting commercial ships in the Red Sea late last year.
Abdulsalam Jahaf, a Houthi official, said: “Now America, Britain, and Israel are launching raids on Hodeidah and Sanaa. We will discipline them God willing.”
Sunak briefed his cabinet of ministers on the imminent military intervention earlier on Thursday before the strikes took place.
In a statement after they began, he said: “The Royal Air Force has carried out targeted strikes against military facilities used by Houthi rebels in Yemen.
“In recent months, the Houthi militia have carried out a series of dangerous and destabilising attacks against commercial shipping in the Red Sea, threatening UK and other international ships, causing major disruption to a vital trade route and driving up commodity prices.
“Their reckless actions are risking lives at sea and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
“Despite the repeated warnings from the international community, the Houthis have continued to carry out attacks in the Red Sea, including against UK and US warships just this week.
“This cannot stand.
“The United Kingdom will always stand up for freedom of navigation and the free flow of trade.
“We have therefore taken limited, necessary and proportionate action in self-defence, alongside the United States with non-operational support from the Netherlands, Canada and Bahrain against targets tied to these attacks, to degrade Houthi military capabilities and protect global shipping.
“The Royal Navy continues to patrol the Red Sea as part of the multinational Operation Prosperity Guardian to deter further Houthi aggression, and we urge them to cease their attacks and take steps to de-escalate.”
President Biden explained that the US had joined forces with a number of allies, including the UK and Canada, and “would not hesitate” to bring further measures.
In a statement, he 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 to endanger freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most vital waterways.
“These strikes are in direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks against international maritime vessels in the Red Sea – including the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles for the first time in history.
“These attacks have endangered US personnel, civilian mariners, and our partners, jeopardised trade, and threatened freedom of navigation.”More than 50 nations have been affected in 27 attacks on international commercial shipping.
“Crews from more than 20 countries have been threatened or taken hostage in acts of piracy.
“More than 2,000 ships have been forced to divert thousands of miles to avoid the Red Sea – which can cause weeks of delays in product shipping times.”And on 9 January, Houthis launched their largest attack to date- directly targeting American ships.”The response of the international community to these reckless attacks has been united and resolute.
“Last month, the United States launched Operation Prosperity Guardian – a coalition of more than 20 nations committed to defending international shipping and deterring Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.
“We also joined more than 40 nations in condemning Houthi threats. Last week, together with 13 allies and partners, we issued an unequivocal warning that Houthi rebels would bear the consequences if their attacks did not cease.
“And yesterday, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution demanding the Houthis end attacks on merchant and commercial vessels.
“Today’s defensive action follows this extensive diplomatic campaign and Houthi rebels’ escalating attacks against commercial vessels.
“These targeted 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.
“I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary.”
The news comes as US troops in the Middle East have faced an increase in drone and rocket attacks since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October.
On Tuesday night, the Iranian-backed Houthis launched 21 missiles and drones at commercial ships in the Red Sea.
Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthis, has vowed to strike back if they are targeted.
He said in a televised speech: “Any American attack will not remain without a response. The response will be greater than the attack that was carried out with 20 drones and a number of missiles.
“We are more determined to target ships linked to Israel, and we will not back down from that.”
The White House also issued a warning on Wednesday: “Let our message now be clear: we call for the immediate end of these illegal attacks and release of unlawfully detained vessels and crews.
“The Houthis will bear the responsibility of the consequences should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, and free flow of commerce in the region’s critical waterways.”
The statement was signed by the governments of the UK, Australia, Canada, Germany, and Japan, among others.
The US military said on Thursday that the Houthis had staged their 27th attack on shipping since November 19, firing an anti-ship ballistic missile into international shipping lanes in the Gulf of Aden.
Earlier this week, US and UK naval forces shot down drones and missiles fired towards the Red Sea by Houthis.
The Houthis have vowed to keep up their attacks until Israel allows food, medicine, and other humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.
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