UK Joins US in Airstrikes Targeting Houthi Drone Facilities in Yemen

The United Kingdom has joined the United States in launching coordinated airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, marking a notable development in Western military engagement in the region.

According to the UK’s Ministry of Defence, the overnight strikes targeted drone manufacturing facilities approximately 24 kilometers south of Yemen’s capital, Sanaa. These sites were reportedly used by the Houthi armed group to produce drones involved in attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

British Royal Air Force Typhoon jets carried out the operation using precision-guided bombs in an effort to limit civilian harm. The Ministry emphasized that the attack was carefully planned and conducted at night to reduce the likelihood of civilian presence, although no casualty figures were released.

This joint action, the first UK airstrike on Houthi sites since the Trump administration began its intensified campaign in March, comes amid ongoing US operations under “Operation Rough Rider.” The campaign was launched in response to continued Houthi attacks on shipping routes, which the group claims are aimed at vessels linked to Israel, the US, or the UK, citing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

Since November 2023, the Houthis have significantly disrupted maritime traffic in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, reportedly sinking two ships and seizing another, prompting a 55% decline in shipping activity. UK Defence Secretary John Healey said the strikes were a necessary measure to protect international navigation and economic stability, pointing to billions in losses due to regional trade disruptions.

While the US has carried out more than 1,000 strikes in Yemen since March, it has provided limited details compared to the UK. The American campaign has faced growing criticism following reports of civilian casualties, including a strike earlier this week that allegedly killed 68 African migrants in a detention center. Human rights organizations, including Yemen-based Mwatana for Human Rights, have voiced concern over the impact of the strikes on civilian populations.

The Houthis, who have controlled much of northern Yemen since 2014, condemned the UK’s involvement, warning of repercussions and accusing the US and UK of supporting Israel’s actions in Gaza. Houthi-run media described the airstrikes as acts of aggression and reiterated their resolve to resist what they labeled as Western military interference.

Neither the US Department of Defense nor Central Command has publicly acknowledged the latest joint strike. Meanwhile, internal debates in the US have also surfaced, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly criticizing European nations for their limited response to the Houthi threat.

With input from the Associated Press, BBC, and Al Jazeera.