Search and destroy: Typhoons launch wave of strikes on rebel bases in Yemen

ROYAL Air Force jets and US warships last night “dealt a blow” with a wave of air strikes on Iran-backed Houthi rebels who have targeted commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

- Nicholas Cecil, Michael Howie

Four RAF Typhoons struck two sites in Yemen as American planes, ships, and a submarine attacked a dozen more, with over 60 strikes in total. Five Houthi militants were reported to have been killed and six wounded.

Local reports said targets included a military base adjacent to Sana’a airport, a military site near Taiz airport, a Houthi sea base in Hodeidah, and military sites in Hajjah province.

US president Joe Biden said: “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 London, the Ministry of Defence said “early indications are that the Houthis’ ability to threaten merchant shipping has taken a blow". Armed forces minister James Heappey said the strikes were in self-defense and no further action was planned for now. The world was now watching as to how the Houthi rebels, and Iran, respond and whether more missile and drone strikes would follow angry words condemning the US-led military action.

Threatening to hit back after the allied action, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree criticised it as a "blatant act of aggression". A high-ranking Houthi official, Ali al-Qahoum, posted on X: "The battle will be bigger..... and beyond the imagination and expectation of the Americans and the British." Iran condemned that attacks. Saudi Arabia called for restraint and "avoiding escalation". The price of oil rose sharply on concern that supplies could be further disrupted. Brent crude was up $2.

The US said Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands supported the operation, part of an international effort to restore the free flow of trade through the Red Sea.