US and UK launch strikes on Houthi targets used to attack shipping

The US and UK forces, with the support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, struck some 36 targets in 13 locations in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen at 11-30pm local time on 3 February.

“These multilateral coalition strikes focused on targets in Houthi-controlled Yemen used to attack international merchant vessels and US Navy ships in the region,” US Central Command (Centcom) said in a statement.

On 4 February Centcom said that US forces conducted a self-defense strike against a cruise missile that was being prepared for launch against ships in the Red Sea.

UK Defence Secretary said that the third wave of strikes launched with the US and with support of international partners on 3 February was “not an escalation”.

“We have successfully targeted launchers and storage sites involved in Houthi attacks, and I am confident that our latest strikes have further degraded the Houthi’s capabilities,” he stated.

However, the first two waves of strikes against the Houthi showed little sign of reducing Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the region, and there was a notable uptick in the targeting of US and UK owned vessels.

Yemini Armed Forces spokesperson Yahya Sare'e was quoted as saying on social media platform X, "these attacks will not deter us from our ... stance in support of the steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, and will not go unanswered and punished."

Related:US military says Houthi missiles failed to hit container ship Koi