Скачать или смотреть U.S.-led coalition strikes Iran-aligned Houthi militants in Yemen

A U. S.-led coalition struck Iran-aligned Houthi militants in Yemen on Thursday, a dramatic escalation after the group ignored warnings from the Biden administration and other governments to stop attacking commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The operation follows weeks of hostility as the Houthis, protesting Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, have disrupted global trade by making the vital waterway a dangerous place for ships to transit. The group, which functions as the de facto government in parts of Yemen, has carried out numerous attacks since November, officials have said, leading to repeated distress calls and routine altercations with U. S. and partner nations’ warships dispatched to the region in response. In a statement, President Biden characterized the strikes as a necessary response to the pattern of violence that has affected several countries, saying they were directed at “a number of targets” used by the Houthis to launch their attacks. He did not disclose whether anyone had been killed in the operation.“These attacks have endangered U. S. personnel, civilian mariners, and our partners, jeopardized trade, and threatened freedom of navigation,” the president said. “ … I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary.”Senior U. S. officials have blamed Iran for having “aided and abetted” the crisis in the Red Sea, saying the Houthis would be incapable of threatening the shipping route if not for Tehran’s technological and intelligence support. Thursday’s strikes will almost certainly heighten tensions across the Middle East, which has seen widening violence since Hamas, another entity aligned with Iran, carried out a stunning cross-border attack on Israel in October. The ensuing war in Gaza has left the Biden administration deeply worried that a strong military response to the Houthis would invite further escalation by Tehran. Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria have stepped up their targeting of U. S. forces deployed in both countries. American troops have absorbed at least 131 attacks since Oct. 17, according to Pentagon data. The U. S. administration has retaliated with occasional airstrikes, including last week’s killing of a militia leader in Baghdad, but it had up to now withheld a forceful response against the Houthis. An incident Tuesday marked a turning point, officials said. U. S. and British forces shot down 18 one-way attack drones, two cruise missiles and one ballistic missile that had been launched as dozens of merchant ships moved through the Red Sea, according to U. S. Central Command. The onslaught was repulsed by a combination of warships and fighter jets. Showing a low-resolution version of the map. Make sure your browser supports WebGL to see the full version. A U. S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the issue’s sensitivity, characterized the encounter as complex and brazen.


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