Houthi rebels vow fierce retaliation after US and British strikes against them

Houthi rebels vow fierce retaliation after US and British strikes against them
  • PublishedJanuary 13, 2024

The latest strike, which has been reported by Reuters and the Associated Press, targeted a radar site and came a day after dozens of US and British strikes on the Iran-backed group’s facilities.

Radar infrastructure has been a key target in the US military effort to halt attacks by the Iranian-backed rebels in the Red Sea.

The two anonymous officials who spoke to Reuters and the Associated Press did not provide more details as they hadn’t yet been publicly announced.

The Houthi movement’s television channel Al-Masirah reported that the US and Britain were targeting the Yemeni capital Sanaa with raids.

Intensifying concerns about a widening regional conflict, US and British warplanes, ships and submarines on Thursday launched missiles against targets across Yemen controlled by the group, which has cast its maritime campaign as support for Palestinians under siege by Israel in Hamas-ruled Gaza.

Even as Houthi leaders swore retaliation, Mr Biden warned earlier on Friday that he could order more strikes if they did not stop their attacks on merchant and military vessels in one of the world’s most economically vital waterways.

“We will make sure that we respond to the Houthis if they continue this outrageous behaviour,” Mr Biden said.

Witnesses confirmed to Reuters explosions early on Friday (local time) at military bases near airports in Sanaa and Yemen’s third city Taiz, a naval base at Yemen’s main Red Sea port Hodeidah and military sites in the coastal Hajjah governorate.

White House spokesperson John Kirby said the strikes had targeted the Houthis’ ability to store, launch and guide missiles or drones, which the group has used in recent months to threaten Red Sea shipping.

The Pentagon said the US-British assault reduced the Houthis’ capacity to launch fresh attacks.

The US military said 60 targets in 28 sites were hit.

After the first attack, the Houthis’ military spokesman, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, said in a recorded address that the strikes would “not go unanswered or unpunished”.

He said strikes on regions of Yemen under their control killed five and injured six from the rebels’ military forces.

Houthi official Hussein al-Ezzi said “America and Britain will undoubtedly have to prepare to pay a heavy price and bear all the dire consequences of this blatant aggression”.

Oil price, inflation concerns rise

The price of Brent crude oil rose more than $US2 ($3) on concerns that supplies could be disrupted, before later giving up half its gain.

Commercial ship tracking data showed at least nine oil tankers stopping or diverting from the Red Sea.

A helicopter flying above a cargo ship in the ocean
Shipping rates have increased after attacks on vessels in the Red Sea.(Reuters: Houthi Military Media)

INTERTANKO, an oil tanker industry body, sent a note to members saying the US-led Combined Maritime Forces had advised ships to “stay well away from Bab al-Mandab” — the mouth of the Red Sea where 15 per cent of global seaborne trade passes — for several days.

Houthi attacks have forced commercial ships to take a longer, more costly route around Africa, creating fears of a new bout of inflation and supply chain disruption.

Container shipping rates for key global routes have soared this week.

Car manufacturers Tesla and Volvo said delays to parts shipments from Asia had forced them to suspend some production in Germany and Belgium respectively, the first big manufacturers to make such announcements.

US President Joe Biden has expressed concern about the impact of the Middle East conflict on oil prices.

Massive protest in Yemen capital

Hundreds of thousands of people, some carrying Kalashnikov rifles, massed for a major demonstration in Yemen’s rebel-held capital Sanaa on Friday after US and UK attacks.

Crowds under a sea of Yemen and Palestinian flags chanted “Death to America, death to Israel” as they massed in the giant Sanaa square in the historic city’s centre.

“If America and its allies decide to declare open war on us, we’re ready for it and we won’t have any choice but to bring victory or fall as martyrs,” said Abdel Azim Ali, one of the protesters.

Another demonstrator, Mohammed Hussein, said he was “waiting for the day when we’re fighting a war with America”.

Abdallah Hassan, who was also in the crowd, said “we’re not scared of the American or British air force”.

“We’ve been bombed for nine years and another attack is nothing new for us,” he said.

A crowd waving flags during demonstration.
Hundreds of thousands of people massed in Yemen’s capital to protest against the strikes. (Reuters: Khaled Abdullah)

The Houthis say they are only targeting Israeli-linked vessels in retaliation for the Israel-Hamas war. They have threatened to attack US and British interests in response to the aerial strikes.

One million people joined the Sanaa demonstration, organisers said in a statement.

AFP correspondents said other protests took place in the cities of Hodeida and Ibb, which are also rebel controlled.

Fears of escalation

Iran said on Friday it condemned the US-Britain attack on Houthis in Yemen, warning that it would fuel “insecurity and instability” in the region, Iranian state media reported.

“We strongly condemn the military attacks carried out this morning by the United States and the United Kingdom on several cities in Yemen”, said Nasser Kanaani, spokesperson at Iran’s foreign ministry.

“These attacks are a clear violation of Yemen’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a breach of international laws,” he added.

In Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning called on nations not to escalate tensions in the Red Sea.

And Russia on Friday condemned the strikes as “illegitimate from the point of view of international law”.

Mr Biden said on Thursday that US and British air strikes against Yemen’s Houthis were “defensive” and warned of further measures if the Iran-backed rebels keep attacking ships in the Red Sea.

Mr Biden said the latest American military intervention in the region was necessary as the Houthi attacks would “endanger freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most vital waterways”.

“These attacks have endangered US personnel, civilian mariners, and our partners, jeopardised trade, and threatened freedom of navigation,” Mr Biden said in a statement.

A joint statement by the US, Britain, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea said the “aim remains to de-escalate tensions”.

“But let our message be clear: we will not hesitate to defend lives and protect the free flow of commerce,” it said.

SOURCE: ABCNEWS

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