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British and American forces attack Houthi targets after surge in attacks on ships | World news

The US Central Command said in a statement that American and British forces had hit 13 targets in Yemen.


Friday, May 31, 2024, 04:39, UK

In the fifth joint operation since January, British and US forces have attacked Houthi targets in Yemen.

The Defense Ministry confirmed that Thursday’s attacks were in response to Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

The Defense Ministry said intelligence confirmed that two sites near Hodeidah were involved in the ship attacks. The buildings housed ground control facilities for drones and storage facilities for long-range drones.

Surface-to-air weapons are also said to be on site.

A number of Houthi facilities in Ghulayfiqah further south on the Yemeni coast have also been identified as being involved in command and control of the group’s anti-shipping campaign.

According to official reports, American and British fighter jets and US ships attacked a wide range of targets.

At the three sites, RAF Typhoon FGR4s flew attacks on the target buildings with guided Paveway IV bombs.

The US F/A-18 fighter jets took off from the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Red Sea, officials said.

Other US warships in the region were also involved.

Total 13 Houthi Targets were hit.

The Houthi-run Al Masirah television station reported at least two dead and ten injured in attacks on a radio building in the Al-Hawk district of Hodeidah.

“As always, the utmost care was taken in planning the attacks to minimize any risk to civilians or non-military infrastructure,” the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

“Carrying out the attacks during the hours of darkness should have further reduced such risks.”

According to the US Maritime Administration, the Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks on ships since November, hijacking one ship and sinking another.

The attacks came one day after a US MQ-9 Reaper drone crashed in Yemenand the Houthis released footage they said showed the plane being attacked by a surface-to-air missile in a desert region in central Marib province.

This was the third shooting of this species this month alone.

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In addition, earlier this week a Greek-owned vessel flying the Marshall Islands flag was damaged twice by missile attacks in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen. A private security company said radio traffic suggested the vessel took on water after the hit.

Although no group claimed responsibility for the attack, suspicion fell on the Houthis.

The US also carries out almost daily attacks against Houthi targets, including missiles and drones aimed at ships and weapons ready to be launched.