US, British forces carry out new strikes in Yemen
British forces carried out a fresh round of strikes on Monday in Yemen, targeting a Houthi underground storage site as well as missile and surveillance capabilities used by the Iran-aligned group against Red Sea shipping, the Pentagon said.
The Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, have said their attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians as Israel strikes Gaza.
The Houthi attacks have disrupted global shipping and stoked fears of global inflation. They have also deepened concern that fallout from the Israel-Hamas war could destabilize the Middle East.
In the latest response, U.S.
and British forces carried out strikes at eight different locations in Yemen, with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands, according to a joint statement signed by the six countries.
A senior U.S.
military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said roughly 25 to 30 munitions were fired, including from warplanes launched from a U.S. aircraft carrier.
So far, eight rounds of strikes over the past month have failed to stop Houthi attacks against shipping.
U.S. officials say the strikes have degraded the Houthis' ability to carry out complex attacks.
But they have declined to offer any specific figures as to the number of missiles, radar, drones or other military capabilities destroyed so far.
«We are having the intended effect,» the U.S. military official told Pentagon reporters.
British Defence Minister Grant Shapps said in a statement that the latest strikes were carried out in self-defense.
«This action will deal another blow to their limited stockpiles and ability to threaten global trade,» Shapps said.
President Joe Biden said last week that air strikes would continue even as he
