The United States and the United Kingdom launch a joint attack on Houthi facilities in Yemen
In a joint military operation carried out on Tuesday night, British and US forces attacked a Houthi military target in Yemen, the UK Ministry of Defence confirmed in a statement issued on Wednesday.
The attack targeted a complex identified by intelligence as a drone manufacturing centre used to attack ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The operation took place at dusk, a time chosen to minimise the risk of civilian casualties, according to the statement, which also reported that the aircraft returned without incident.
This is the first time the UK has publicly acknowledged its participation in a joint operation with the United States since President Donald Trump's administration intensified its offensive against the Houthis, backed by the Islamic Republic of Iran, in March.
Since then, Washington has launched more than 800 strikes against Houthi targets, targeting both military infrastructure and commanders responsible for missiles and drones, according to official data. These strikes have reduced Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the area by 40%, according to estimates by international analysts.
Although London has been part of a coalition since early 2024 aimed at protecting maritime routes from Houthi attacks, its actions have so far been low-key. In contrast, Washington has carried out numerous unilateral attacks.
The British statement did not provide details on possible casualties from the attack. However, Houthi media reported this week that a previous US bombing killed 68 people in a detention centre for African migrants, an incident that is being investigated by the US Department of Defense.
The Houthis, who control large areas of Yemeni territory, have been launching attacks on ships in the Red Sea since November 2023, claiming that these ships were linked to Israel. These actions have had a negative impact on international trade, as the Gulf of Aden is one of the world's most important shipping routes. They have also regularly fired ballistic missiles into Israeli territory, although most are intercepted before impact.
