Today’s news / U.S. and UK attavc Houthi targets in Yemen
The aircraft in the picture is thought to be one of those used to carry out the overnight attacks in Yemen. It is not immediately clear which Houthi targets were attacked. Photo: UK Ministry of Defence/Reuters

U.S. and UK attavc Houthi targets in Yemen

Overnight Friday Danish time, the United States and Britain attacked targets linked to the Houthi movement in Yemen. This comes after the Houthi movement was behind a series of attacks on ships in the Red Sea. In a joint statement with a number of other countries, Denmark supports the operation against the Houthi movement.
     “…the armed forces of the United States and United Kingdom, with support from the Netherlands, Canada, Bahrain, and Australia, conducted joint strikes in accordance with the inherent right of individual and collective self-defence, consistent with the UN Charter, against a number of targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen,” said the statement supported by the governments of Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States.
     “These precision strikes were intended to disrupt and degrade the capabilities used by the Houthis to threaten global trade and the lives of international seafarers in one of the world’s most critical waterways…….Our aim remains to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea, but let our message be clear: we will not hesitate to defend lives and protect the free flow of commerce in one of the world’s most critical waterways in the face of continued threats,” the statement said.
     In a written comment to Ritzau, Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen also expressed support for the attack. “Together with a wide circle of countries, we have sent a clear message that the Houthis must stop their attacks. That has not been listened to. The government and a group of countries therefore fully support the US-led response in Yemen,” he said.  “The fact that the United States and a group of countries are now backing a more offensive effort is positive in every way,” says Lars Løkke Rasmussen. Earlier, the Danish government announced that it would deploy a Danish frigate in the Red Sea. Read the full statement HERE. /ritzau/WhiteHouse/