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Cloud of smoke in Sanaa in Yemen: US and British forces have attacked 18 Houthi targets in the Red Sea country
Photo:
Yahya Arhab / EPA
The conflict in Yemen has escalated further: US and British forces have said they have attacked a total of 18 Houthi targets in the country on the Red Sea.
The attacks are said to have targeted weapons and missile depots, defense systems, radar systems and a helicopter in eight different locations in Yemen.
The countries that supported the campaign said this in a joint statement.
In addition to the USA and Great Britain, these include Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand.
"The United States will not hesitate to take action when necessary to protect lives and free commerce on one of the world's most important waterways," said US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
The Houthis would continue to feel the consequences of their attacks if they did not stop.
The Houthi militia in Yemen is repeatedly targeting ships in the Red Sea in the wake of the Gaza war between Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas - just a week ago, the Houthis said they had a freighter in the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the southern entrance to the Gaza Strip Red Sea attacked with missiles and badly damaged.
The Iranian-backed militia says it is acting in solidarity with Hamas and is directing its attacks off the Yemeni coast on freighters with alleged Israeli connections.
The Red Sea is considered one of the most important shipping routes for world trade because it connects the Mediterranean with the Indian Ocean via the Suez Canal in Egypt.
The USA and Great Britain have recently repeatedly attacked Houthi targets in Yemen: This is the fourth joint operation by the US and British military against the militia since January 12th.
spr/Reuters/dpa/AP