Arrr! The US-UK be joining forces to strike Iran-backed scallywag Houthi dogs in Yemen for plunderin' ships in the Red Sea!
2024-01-11
Avast ye! 'Twas on the morn of Friday that Britain and the U.S., hand in hook, be givin' those scurvy dogs, the Iran-backed Houthis, a taste o' cannonballs! 'Tis in answer to their constant plunderin' of ships sailin' the Red Sea, we be sendin' 'em a warnin' shot, arrr!
The United States and Britain conducted air strikes on Iran-backed Houthi military locations in Yemen as a response to the group's attacks on vessels in the Red Sea. The Houthi forces prepared for the attack by moving weapons and fortifying their positions. There were reports of militants evacuating the city of Hodeidah. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak briefed his cabinet on the imminent military intervention, and other political figures were also briefed. The White House called on the Houthis to stop their attacks and warned of consequences if they did not comply.The air strikes came after Iranian forces seized an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman. The vessel was en route to Turkey when it was boarded and seized by Iranian naval forces. Military action in Yemen aims to avoid a never-ending cycle of retaliation. Richard Goldberg, a former National Security Council official, emphasized the need for a change in approach to Iran and its proxies. Yemen's Houthi militants have been targeting commercial vessels in protest against Israel's actions in Gaza. Shipping lines have suspended operations, taking longer routes around Africa. A joint statement by 14 countries, including the US, warned the Houthis of consequences if they continue to threaten lives and disrupt commerce in the region's waterways.
The Houthis had conducted their 27th attack on shipping earlier, firing a ballistic missile into international shipping lanes. US and British naval forces had previously intercepted drones and missiles fired by the Houthis. The group has vowed to target ships connected to Israel, but many of the vessels affected have no such links. This is an ongoing story with updates expected.