US, Britain strike over 60 Houthi targets in Yemen

London, January 12

The US and Britain launched a series of strikes on Yemen that continued overnight, aimed at the Iran-backed Houthi militia that started targeting international shipping in the Red Sea late last year.

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British PM Rishi Sunak said on Friday that the joint airstrikes were a “necessary and proportionate action in self-defence.” The US-led strikes are the first against the Houthi militia since November last year.

Sunak accused the Iranian-backed group of threatening UK ships as the US Air Force said more than 60 targets at 16 locations used by Houthis in Yemen were struck. “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,” said Sunak.

Meanwhile, Russia condemned the US and Britain for their military strikes on Yemen. Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the move amounted to an irresponsible adventure that risked sowing chaos across the entire Middle East. Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kannani said, “These attacks are a clear violation of Yemen’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a breach of international laws.” — Agencies