June 1, Yemen:
In response to recent lethal strikes in Yemen by the US and UK, the Houthi rebels of Yemen have reportedly conducted a missile strike on a US aircraft carrier in the Red Sea, according to Al Jazeera. Following prior accusations by the organisation that US and UK assaults on Yemen’s Hodeidah region killed at least 16 people, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree revealed the attack on the Eisenhower carrier on Friday. Officially, this is the biggest number of casualties reported as a result of the many strikes associated with the group's purported attacks on ships.
A Houthi-controlled channel, Al Masirah television, revealed the aftermath of Thursday's attacks with footage broadcasting images of injured civilians being treated in Hodeidah. The number of injured has risen to 42.
While threatening to "meet escalation with escalation," Houthi spokesman Mohammed al-Bukhaiti stated on X that the rebels will "continue our military operations in support of Palestine" despite the American-British assault. According to Al Jazeera, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that eight unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were destroyed in strikes on thirteen Houthi sites in Yemen and the Red Sea, where the Houthis are in control.
Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s attacked Hodeidah and Ghulayfiqah, according to the British Ministry of Defence. It stated the targets were "buildings identified as housing drone ground control facilities and providing storage for very long-range drones, as well as surface-to-air weapons" .
The military action was justified by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who stated that it was necessary to fight against the continuous threat posed by the Houthis. Much of Yemen is now under the authority of the Iranian-aligned Houthi movement, which has been fighting for nearly a decade against a coalition supported by the West and commanded by Saudi Arabia. They have been attacking ships in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb strait, and the Gulf of Aden with drones and missiles on multiple occasions since November, all in support of the Palestinians while Israel continues its battle in Gaza.
The US-UK strikes were denounced by Iran as "violations of Yemen's sovereignty and territorial integrity... international laws and human rights," which cited Iranian state media. The consequences of these crimes against the Yemeni people are the responsibility of the aggressor countries, according to Nasser Kanaani, a spokeswoman for Iran's foreign ministry.
The US Maritime Administration reports that the Houthis have interfered with international trade routes more than 50 times, leading to losses of life and property and the seizure of ships. About 12% of international traffic passes via the Red Sea, but the effort has prompted shipping companies to look for other routes. Even though the United States and the United Kingdom launched retaliatory strikes to weaken the Houthi forces, the rebels have persisted in their attacks. A Greek-owned bulk tanker and other vessels were targeted in their latest activities in reaction to Israeli bombings on Gaza.
