A new American attack in Yemen increases tension in the area

U.S. forces launched an attack on a Houthi radar facility in Yemen just a day after widespread attacks on the group, according to two U.S. officials.

Unlike the previous operation, in which Great Britain also took part, this one was carried out exclusively by the United States.

The strikes are a military response to a series of missile and drone attacks by the Houthis on commercial and military ships sailing through the Red Sea.

The Houthi rebels have carried out several attacks on boats in the Red Sea in recent weeks in a perceived show of support for the Palestinian population.

The Houthis, backed by Iran, have controlled Yemen’s capital Sanaa and other areas in the north and west of the country since 2015.

Terrorists

United States President Joe Biden declared on Friday that the Ansar Allah movement, known as the Houthi rebels in Yemen, should be considered a terrorist group.

“Are you willing to call the Houthis a terrorist group?” a journalist asked him in a cafeteria during an official visit to Emmaus, Pennsylvania, to which the US president responded bluntly: “I think so.” However, he believes that officially designating the group as such would not change things.

The Biden administration removed the Houthis from the list of terrorist groups in February 2021 after recognizing that the designation “could have a devastating impact on Yemenis’ access to basic goods such as food and fuel.”

Houthis declare ‘open war’

For their part, the Houthi rebels declared “open war” on the United States and Britain after the bombings.

According to the rebels’ military spokesman, Yahya Sarea, these bombings left five dead among the Houthi ranks.

The Houthis called these attacks “unjustified,” even “terrorist,” and vowed that these actions will not go unanswered.