United Kingdom and United States initiative: Air raids on Houthi targets
Rewritten Article:
Heads turned towards the Middle East yesterday, as the British military joined forces with the US to launch airstrikes against Yemen's Houthi rebels, marking their first attack under a new offensive kickstarted by the Trump administration.
The joint operation, christened as "Operation Rough Rider," is aimed at curbing the Iran-backed group that has been causing a persistent threat to freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Britain broke the silence on their reasons for engaging in this conflict, delivering a detailed statement that contrasted the US's relative quietness regarding the more than 800 strikes they have conducted since March 15.
The British Ministry of Defence targeted a cluster of buildings near Sana'a, which the Houthis had been using to manufacture drones. This site, approximately 25km south of Sana'a, was picked out due to its role in launching drone attacks on ships in the region.
British Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s participated in the raid, deploying Paveway IV guided bombs. The ministry noted that the strike took place under cover of darkness, minimizing potential risks to civilians.
However, the ministry held back on providing details about the damage caused or the possibility of casualties. The US military's Central Command failed to acknowledge the specific strike.
British Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey, justified the strike by stating it was a response to the ongoing threat posed by the Houthis to navigation freedom in the region. He emphasized that the drop in shipping through the Red Sea has already resulted in substantial losses, fueling regional instability and potentially impacting economic security for UK families.
In response to the British involvement, the Houthis reported several strikes around Yemen's capital, Sana'a, and near Sa'dah. It's worth mentioning that this marks the first such strikes with British involvement since Trump took office in January.
The US has been carrying out strikes on Yemen from its two aircraft carriers, the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea and the USS Carl Vinson in the Arabian Sea.
It's important to note that Operation Rough Rider, under Trump's second term, has continued to escalate, with over 800 strikes against Houthi targets since mid-March, targeting radar systems, drone launch sites, and air defenses[3][4]. The recent expansion of the campaign saw the first UK-authorized strikes since May 2024[2].
The operation has been fraught with challenges, including the loss of a $60 million F/A-18 Super Hornet on April 28, following the evasion of Houthi fire[2]. The Houthis have continued to target commercial vessels, with over 190 ships hit since 2023[4]. As of late April, the operation showed no signs of de-escalation, with CENTCOM continuing daily strikes[5].
[1] AP, DUBAI, United Arab Emirates[2] Data from enrichment on April 30, 2025 (Up to 15% of total content)[3] Data from enrichment on April 28, 2025[4] Data from enrichment on mid-April 2025[5] Data from enrichment on late April 2025
- The likelihood of further conflict in Yemen increased yesterday as the British Ministry of Defence launched airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, marking the first attack under the new "Operation Rough Rider" in war-and-conflicts.
- The US and British military's joint operation, aimed at curbing the Iran-backed Houthi group, has been causing increased activity in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, resulting in political implications for freedom of navigation.
- The recent expansion of Operation Rough Rider has seen the first UK-authorized airstrikes since May 2024, targeting sites like those near Sana'a used for manufacturing drones, playing a crucial role in attacks on ships in the region.
- General news sources recently reported that the US has been conducting strikes against Houthi targets from their aircraft carriers in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, contributing to ongoing war-and-conflicts in Yemen during Trump's second term.
