The United States, alongside its allies, delivered a strong message to Iran-backed militants on Thursday night as it launched military strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen. The strikes come as a response to weeks of escalating attacks against commercial vessels passing through the vital Red Sea shipping lane.
The Biden administration made it clear that they will not tolerate attacks on U.S. personnel and threats to the free flow of international commerce. This defensive action was the result of an extensive diplomatic campaign and the Houthis’ continuous aggression.
Using fighter jets and Tomahawk missiles, over 60 targets at 16 locations were hit by the U.S. Air Force, with added support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands. The strikes aimed to target command and control nodes, munitions depots, launching systems, production facilities, and air defense radar systems.
President Joe Biden released a statement following the strikes, stating that they were a clear message that the U.S. and its partners will not stand idly by while hostile actors endanger the freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most critical commercial routes. He also warned that he would not hesitate to take further action if needed to protect the American people and international commerce.
“Today’s defensive action follows this extensive diplomatic campaign and Houthi rebels’ escalating attacks against commercial vessels,” Biden said in a statement. “These targeted strikes are a clear message that the United States and our partners will not tolerate attacks on our personnel or allow hostile actors to imperil freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most critical commercial routes.”
The extent of the damage caused by the strikes is yet to be determined, but the Houthis have reported at least five militants dead and six others injured in their controlled areas. They have also vowed retaliation, promising that the strikes will not go unanswered and unpunished.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has also expressed support for the U.S., stating that the attacks in the Red Sea cannot be tolerated. He urged the Houthis to stop their aggression and emphasized that the U.K. will always stand up for freedom of navigation and the free flow of trade.
This latest aggression from the Houthis comes as a result of their support for Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, during the recent conflict with Israel. They have launched numerous attacks on international ships passing through the Red Sea in an attempt to pressure Israel into stopping its war in Gaza.
However, these attacks have not gone unnoticed and were condemned by the U.S. and its allies, who have dispatched warships to patrol the area. Following a visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned the Houthis that there would be consequences if they continued their attacks.
There are some though who aren’t happy with Biden’s actions. The far left has spoken. Here are some of their responses.
If you had told me on Jan 20, 2021 that Biden would be ordering military strikes on the Houthis without Congressional approval while the Saudis would be calling for restraint and de-escalation in Yemen, I would never have believed it. https://t.co/M2qF5GYcfg
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) January 12, 2024
One of the most frequently misrepresented federal statutes—often falsely used to justify unconstitutional presidential war powers—is the War Powers Resolution (or Act) (50 U.S.C. §§ 1541-1550).
If only more people would read it.
Contrary to what you may have heard about the War…
— Justin Amash (@justinamash) January 12, 2024
.@POTUS is violating Article I of the Constitution by carrying out airstrikes in Yemen without congressional approval. The American people are tired of endless war.
— Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (@RepRashida) January 12, 2024
Biden claims he cares about civilians while expediting the 2,000 lb bombs that murder them.
He claims he doesn’t want a war while illegally bombing Yemen
A liar and a criminal.
— Krystal Ball (@krystalball) January 12, 2024
The wealthiest country in the world just bombed one of the poorest countries in the world without Congressional authorization in order to prevent Red Sea attacks by the Houthis that a ceasefire in Gaza would prevent much more effectively. https://t.co/VOWqTRMGty
— Trita Parsi (@tparsi) January 12, 2024
The President needs to come to Congress before launching a strike against the Houthis in Yemen and involving us in another middle east conflict. That is Article I of the Constitution. I will stand up for that regardless of whether a Democrat or Republican is in the White House.
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) January 11, 2024
The Houthis, a militant group from Yemen’s northwestern Saada province, have been a cause of concern since they took control of the country’s capital in 2014. With support from Iran, they have been in conflict with Saudi Arabia and have caused what the United Nations has deemed the “largest humanitarian crisis in the world.”
The U.S. has been involved in the Yemen conflict, backing the Saudi-led war. However, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has taken steps towards peace talks with the Houthis and wound down the military operation last year.
