On Saturday, the United States and Britain carried out a series of airstrikes targeting 36 Houthi targets in Yemen.
This marks the second wave of attacks aimed at disabling Iran-backed groups that have been launching attacks against American and international interests. The strikes come in the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas war, which has heightened tensions in the region.
The focus of these strikes was the Houthis, who are aligned with Iran and have been responsible for numerous attacks on ships transiting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The U.S. Central Command stated that the strikes were conducted in self-defense against a Houthi anti-ship cruise missile that posed an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the Red Sea.
The strikes on Saturday targeted 13 different locations and involved U.S. F/A-18 fighter jets from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier, as well as British Typhoon FGR4 fighter aircraft and Navy destroyers USS Gravely and USS Carney firing Tomahawk missiles from the Red Sea. The objective was to cripple Houthi capabilities and protect international waters.
The decision not to directly target Iran reflects a delicate balancing act by the United States to respond forcefully to Houthi aggression while avoiding further escalation with Iran. Washington has been navigating a complex situation, trying to deter Iran-backed groups without widening the conflict.
These airstrikes follow a previous assault in Iraq and Syria on Friday, targeting Iranian-backed militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. The Friday strikes were in retaliation for a drone strike that killed three U.S. troops in Jordan the previous weekend. The U.S. had warned that its response would not be limited to one night, one target, or one group.
The Houthi movement has been relentless in its attacks, launching missiles and drones almost daily against commercial and military ships in the region. Despite pressure from the U.S. and Britain, they have shown no intention of scaling back their campaign.
The Biden administration has signaled that this may not be the end of its strikes as tensions persist in the region. While the strikes are a response to recent events, the broader geopolitical context involves ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, with Iran-backed groups and their activities being a focal point of concern for the United States and its allies.
