Yesterday, a coalition of nations issued a joint statement regarding the additional strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.
Included were air sorties from aircraft launched from the deck
of the aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower (seen in the above U.S. Navy photo).
Below is the statement:
Today, the militaries of the United States and United Kingdom,
at the direction of their respective governments with support from Australia,
Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, conducted an additional round of
proportionate and necessary strikes against 8 Houthi targets in Yemen in
response to the Houthis' continued attacks against international and commercial
shipping as well as naval vessels transiting the Red Sea. These precision
strikes are intended to disrupt and degrade the capabilities that the Houthis
use to threaten global trade and the lives of innocent mariners, and are in
response to a series of illegal, dangerous, and destabilizing Houthi actions
since our coalition strikes on January 11, including anti-ship ballistic
missile and unmanned aerial system attacks that struck two U.S.-owned merchant
vessels.
Today's strike specifically targeted a Houthi underground
storage site and locations associated with the Houthis' missile and air
surveillance capabilities.
The Houthis' now more than thirty attacks on international and
commercial vessels since mid-November constitute an international challenge.
Recognizing the broad consensus of the international community, we again acted
as part of a coalition of like-minded countries committed to upholding the
rules-based order, protecting freedom of navigation and international commerce,
and holding the Houthis accountable for their illegal and unjustifiable attacks
on mariners and commercial shipping.
Our aim remains to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea but let us reiterate our warning to Houthi leadership: we will not hesitate to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the world's most critical waterways in the face of continued threats.
