ABOARD USS EISENHOWER IN THE RED SEA — The United States and the United Kingdom launched airstrikes Saturday targeting Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen in response to the group’s continued attacks in the Red Sea, the countries confirmed in a joint statement.
A coalition of countries created to protect shipping in the Red Sea from the Yemeni Houthis has issued a joint statement calling the strikes on the Houthis legitimate self-defence. Source: a joint statement by Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, United Kingdom, United States of America and Canada, released by the White House.
Judging by the scale of the latest attacks against international shipping by Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthis, the rebels are taking little notice of the warnings issued by a succession of Western leaders of the dire military consequences they could face.
The United States and eleven other countries issued a joint statement on Wednesday reiterating a call for an end to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, according to the White House. "Let our message now be clear: we call for the immediate end of these illegal attacks and release of unlawfully detained vessels and crews," said the statement, issued by the U.S. with Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Britain, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands and New Zealand. China called the Red Sea an important shipping lane for the international goods and energy trade on Thursday, and said it is of common interest to safeguard its peace and stability.
America, the UK and other allies have sent what amounts to a final warning to Iran-backed Houthi rebels to end their attacks on vessels in the Red Sea or face potential targeted military action