After Yemen’s Houthis rebels ignored the ultimatum sent by a group of 12 countries and carried out a major drone and anti-ship missile attack against American escort ships in the Red Sea, the US and the UK began their retaliatory air campaign.
On the evening of January 11, US President Joe Biden issued a press release stating:
“Today, at my direction, U.S. military forces—together with the United Kingdom and with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands—successfully conducted strikes against a number of targets in Yemen used by Houthi rebels to endanger freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most vital waterways.”
Another press release issued by the White House contends that:
“These precision strikes were intended to disrupt and degrade the capabilities the Houthis use to threaten global trade and the lives of international mariners in one of the world’s most critical waterways.”
Attack on Houthi rebels
The air strike against Houthi positions in Yemen was led by the U.S. Armed Forces, which deployed the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) carrier task force, assisted by Royal Air Force (RAF) aircrafts.
Four @RoyalAirForce Typhoons have conducted precision strikes on two Houthi military targets alongside US forces.
The threat to innocent lives and global trade has become so great that this action was not only necessary, it was our duty to protect vessels & freedom of navigation pic.twitter.com/tbN7ncJYpF
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) January 12, 2024
A total of 60 targets in 16 rebel-held locations were reportedly attacked, using more than 100 precision-guided munitions, including cruise missiles launched by naval forces or guided missiles and bombs dropped by 21 Eisenhower Super Hornets and four RAF Eurofighter Typhoons. The fighter aircraft were supported by two RAF A330 MRTTs and 1 American RC-135, 1 P-8A, 1 KC-135 and 1 E-2C Hawkaye.
12JAN2024 Infographic highlighting Land, Sea, Air assets used by Coalition forces on 12JAN2024 strikes on Houthi targets.
Countries Involved
????????????????????????????????????????????????Total Aircraft
4x Typhoon
21x FA-18E/FA-18F/EA-18G
1x E-2C Hawkeye
1x P-8A
1x RC-135
1x KC-135
2x RAF VoyagerTotal… pic.twitter.com/8937TYwGxn
— Intelschizo (@Schizointel) January 12, 2024
Images released by U.S. Central Command show F/A-18 Super Hornets operating from the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and launching cruise missiles from their destroyers and escort cruisers.
U.S. Central Command has released Footage from aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) and an Unknown Arleigh Burke-Class Destroyer earlier tonight in the Red Sea, showing the launch of Tomahawk Land-Attack Cruise Missiles as well as EA-18G “Growler” Electronic Warfare… pic.twitter.com/Vfx2CQceoN
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) January 12, 2024
The Strait of Hormuz remains dangerous
Despite the air strikes, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Office (UKMTO) reported a number of “incidents” in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz. Missiles apparently landed near a merchant ship and a pair of speedboats followed another vessel for more than an hour.
UKMTO WARNING 008/JAN/2024https://t.co/zHGNgQp1UB#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/KVYPsUT81Q
— United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) (@UK_MTO) January 12, 2024
The effectiveness of the air campaign against the Houthi rebels rebels will be assessed, over the next few days, by the decline (or not) of reports of attacks on shipping lanes in the Red Sea. But it seems unlikely to be enough to deter them from further attacks on commercial waterways in the future. It will come down to a game of wits and patience, something the Houthis have demonstrated they have, in their long war against Saudi Arabia and its allies.
