ARLINGTON—In response to Iranian-backed Houthi attacks against U.S. and international vessels and commercial vessels in the Red Sea, the United States and United Kingdom, with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, conducted strikes against military targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen on Thursday evening.

“This action is intended to disrupt and degrade the Houthis’ capabilities to endanger mariners and threaten global trade in one of the world’s most critical waterways,” Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III released in a statement. “Today’s coalition action sends a clear message to the Houthis that they will bear further costs if they do not end their illegal attacks.”

Protests have broken out in front of the White House with calls of “Hands off Yemen” in response to the U.S.-led bombing Thursday night.

#BREAKING: Crowd gathering outside of the White House to protest the U.S.-led bombing of Yemen – how many terrorists will look for payback in the US because of Biden? #MAGA #AmericaFirst pic.twitter.com/JK3OTfgXDH

— Online Shogun (@online_shogun) January 12, 2024

Russia has called an emergency UN Security Council meeting to convene on Friday, January 12, in connection with the U.S.-led air strikes against Yemen, the Russian Permanent Mission to the UN said on its Telegram channel.

The air and sea strikes targeted sites associated with the Houthis’ unmanned aerial vehicle, ballistic and cruise missile, and coastal radar and air surveillance capabilities, Austin said.

Approximately 15 F/A-18 “Super Hornet” Multirole Fighters that took off from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) participated in Thursday’s operation against Houthi targets. Well over 100 precision-guided missiles, from Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles to AGM-88 HARM air-to-surface anti-radiation missiles were used.

Currently the Pentagon has deployed an aircraft-carrier strike group to the region—USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. The strike group includes approximately 5,000 military personnel, at least one missile cruiser, at least two destroyers and dozens of jet fighters.

The British deployed four Royal Air Force Typhoons which conducted precision strikes on two Houthi military targets alongside their U.S. allies. 

🚨 The Right Honourable Grant Shapps MP for Welwyn Hatfield & UK Secretary of State for Defence:

"Four Royal Air Force Typhoons have conducted precision strikes on two Houthi military targets alongside US forces.

The threat to innocent lives and global trade has become so… https://t.co/vPq0F2ZRki pic.twitter.com/72MmhQrbeB

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) January 12, 2024

“Today, a coalition of countries committed to upholding the rules-based international order demonstrated our shared commitment to defending U.S. and international vessels and commercial vessels exercising navigational rights and freedoms from illegal and unjustifiable attacks,” Austin said. “We will not hesitate to defend our forces, the global economy, and the free flow of legitimate commerce in one of the world’s vital waterways.”

The Yemeni rebel group, Houthis announced it entered the Israeli war with Gaza in October of 2023. The faction said it will continue to launch missiles to Israel, until the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people end. The Houthis have ballistic power capable of threatening US bases located in the Arabian Peninsula.

On the morning of October 27, 2023, the U.S. launched air strikes against Iranian-linked targets in eastern Syria in retaliation for a series of drone attacks on American military bases in Iraq and Syria,

In early December, the Houthis announced that they will “prevent Israeli ships from navigating the Red Sea and [Gulf of Aden] until the Israeli aggression against our steadfast brothers in the Gaza Strip stops.” 

Since November 19, the Houthis have launched more than two dozen attacks on vessels, including commercial vessels, creating an international challenge that demands collective action.

In December, shipping giant Maersk is suspending travel through the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the Middle East following a series of attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi militants from Yemen. Days later, companies representing 53% of global container shipping joined Maersk halting services through the Red Sea—Hapag-Lloyd, French CMA CGM and Swiss MSC.

Container ships are now being re-routed around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope adding thousands of miles to travel. Consumers should expect significant price increases to goods and Maersk warns of supply chain disruptions to services.