U.S. and Allies Launch Tomahawk Missile Strikes in Yemen, Escalating Conflict with Houthi Militia

In a significant escalation of the conflict in Yemen, the United States, along with its allies, has officially confirmed the commencement of airstrikes against Houthi targets.

The Tomahawk military strikes targeted over a dozen locations in Yemen controlled by the Iranian-backed Houthi militia, marking a departure from the Biden administration's efforts to avoid direct involvement in the Middle East conflict. Four Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon jets deployed at RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus participated in the airstrike at Houthi rebels Yemen.

“Four RAF Typhoon FGR4s, supported by a Voyager air refuelling tanker therefore used Paveway IV guided bombs to conduct precision strikes on two of these Houthi facilities. One was a site at Bani in north-western Yemen used to launch reconnaissance and attack drones. A number of buildings involved in drone operations were targeted by our aircraft.

The other location struck by our aircraft was the airfield at Abbs. Intelligence has shown that it has been used to launch both cruise missiles and drones over the Red Sea. Several key targets at the airfield were identified and prosecuted by our aircraft” the UK Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

In addition to the F/A-18E/F Super Hornets flown from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, Arleigh-Burke-class destroyers of the U.S. Navy launched several BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles at Houthi targets in Yemen, as per reports. The exact number of cruise missiles launched is still unknown.

USS Florida, an Ohio-class guided missile submarine that crossed into the Red Sea on November 23, was part of the attack on Yemen. Similar to the surface ships that participated in the attack, the submarine fired Tomahawk land-attack missiles.

Today’s strikes were carried out in response to more than two dozen Houthi drone and missile attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea since November. Despite warnings from the Biden administration and international allies, the Houthi attacks persisted, leading to the decision for military intervention.

The Houthis, an Iran-backed Shia political and military organization, have been fighting a civil war in Yemen against a coalition backed by Saudi Arabia. They have been launching drones and missiles at commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea for weeks, many of which have been intercepted and shot down by U.S. Navy ships in the area. The rebel group has claimed to act in support of Hamas’ fight against Israel in Gaza.

While the United States' involvement in Yemen is not unprecedented, with nearly 400 airstrikes conducted since 2002, officials from the White House and Pentagon had previously shown hesitation, expressing concerns about the potential expansion of the conflict in Gaza into the region.

A pivotal moment unfolded around New Year's as U.S. Navy helicopters, in an act of self-defense, sunk three Houthi boats, representing the initial direct engagement between the U.S. and the Houthis since the conflict's inception. This incident led President Biden to assemble his national security team for a confidential briefing call.

On Tuesday, in one of the largest Houthi attacks to date, three U.S. Navy destroyers, Navy F/A-18s from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, and a UK destroyer, the HMS Diamond, shot down 21 missiles and drones. The strikes targeted radars, missile and drone launch sites, as well as weapons storage areas, according to Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III.

President Biden, in a statement, emphasized that the strikes send a clear message that the United States and its partners will not tolerate attacks on personnel or threats to freedom of navigation in critical commercial routes. He warned of further measures to protect people and international commerce if necessary.

The international coalition involved in the airstrikes includes the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Bahrain, and the Netherlands. The coordinated effort aims to protect freedom of navigation and the free flow of trade in one of the world's most vital waterways.

Middle Eastern allies, including Qatar and Oman, expressed concerns that strikes against the Houthis could escalate tensions and widen the conflict to involve other Iranian proxies in the region.