Second round of joint airstrikes by the US & UK target Yemen's Houthi rebels. The Houthis have vowed 'to respond to any attacks on Yemen.' Houthi's claim to have fired at a U.S. cargo ship in Red sea. Watch to know more!

Houthis order US, UK and UN staff to leave Yemen after they attack Houthis underground site

The United States and Britain said that their second wave of coordinated military action against the rebels backed by Iran was in reaction to ongoing attacks on shipping when they conducted fresh strikes on the Huthis on Monday. On January 11, American and British forces launched a first round of strikes against the rebel group. Later that same day, the US conducted additional airstrikes targeting missiles that Washington claimed were prepared for launch and may endanger both military and civilian vessels.

US, UK forces carry out fresh airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen

Bloodbath in the Red Sea continues. In the latest instance, US & UK conducted strikes in Yemen's capital immediately after the Houthis claimed to have attacked a U.S. military cargo ship. Priyanka Sharma gets you more details.

Gravitas | US vs Houthis: Tensions persist in the Red Sea

<p>The United States and the United Kingdom carried out a fresh series of joint air strikes against the Houthi rebels in Yemen.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Pentagon, in a statement, said that the air strikes carried out on Monday (Jan 22) hit eight targets which included weapon storage facilities, air defence systems, missile systems and launchers.</p>

<p>The latest strikes conducted by the US and UK were against "eight Houthi targets in Yemen in response to the Houthis' continued attacks against international and commercial shipping as well as naval vessels transiting the Red Sea," said Washington and London, in a joint statement with other nations which supported the military action.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/yemens-houthi-rebel-group-claims-it-attacked-us-military-ship-in-gulf-of-aden-washington-denies-682615"><strong>&nbsp;</strong>Yemen's Houthi rebel group claims it attacked US military ship in Gulf of Aden, Washington denies</a></p>

<p>"These precision strikes are intended to disrupt and degrade the capabilities that the Houthis use to threaten global trade and the lives of innocent mariners," read the statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a separate statement, the US Central Command said that the air strikes were targeted at places which "included missile systems and launchers, air defence systems, radars, and deeply buried weapons storage facilities".</p>

<h2><strong>US, UK claim trying to protect ‘free flow of commerce’&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The Iran-backed Houthi rebels have been striking ships which they claim to have links with Israel and Western nations.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The US and UK have claimed that the strikes are aimed at protecting the "free flow of commerce".</p>

<p>In a joint statement, the Pentagon said that “an additional round of proportionate and necessary strikes" were carried out&nbsp;against the Houthis.</p>

<p>"Our aim remains to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea, but let us reiterate our warning to Houthi leadership: we will not hesitate to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the world's most critical waterways in the face of continued threats,” the statement further read.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This is the eighth strike launched by the US on Houthis in Yemen. This is also the second joint operation conducted by the US with the UK, after joint air strikes were launched on January 11.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas: US Navy SEALs die during anti-Houthi operation. What's the real story?</strong></p>

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<p>The joint statement claimed that the joint strikes were launched with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands.</p>

<p>The strikes on Monday were carried out by US fighter jets from the carrier USS Eisenhower along with the UK’s four RAF Typhoons and a pair of Voyager tankers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Our aircraft used Paveway IV precision-guided bombs to strike multiple targets at two military sites in the vicinity of Sanaa airfield. These locations were being used to enable the continued intolerable attacks against international shipping in the Red Sea," said the UK Ministry of Defence.</p>

<p>"In line with UK standard practice, a very rigorous analysis was applied in planning the strikes to minimise any risk of civilian casualties, and as with the previous strikes, our aircraft bombed at night to mitigate yet further any such risks," it added.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The United States and the United Kingdom carried out a fresh series of joint air strikes against the Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Pentagon, in a statement, said that the air strikes carried out on Monday (Jan 22) hit eight targets which included weapon storage facilities, air defence systems, missile systems and launchers.

The United States and the United Kingdom carried out a fresh series of joint air strikes against the Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Pentagon, in a statement, said that the air strikes carried out on Monday (Jan 22) hit eight targets which included weapon storage facilities, air defence systems, missile systems and launchers. The latest strikes conducted by the US and UK were against "eight Houthi targets in Yemen in response to the Houthis' continued attacks against international and commercial shipping as well as naval vessels transiting the Red Sea," said Washington and London, in a joint statement with other nations which supported the military action. Also read: Yemen's Houthi rebel group claims it attacked US military ship in Gulf of Aden, Washington denies "These precision strikes are intended to disrupt and degrade the capabilities that the Houthis use to threaten global trade and the lives of innocent mariners," read the statement. In a separate statement, the US Central Command said that the air strikes were targeted at places which "included missile systems and launchers, air defence systems, radars, and deeply buried weapons storage facilities". US, UK claim trying to protect ‘free flow of commerce’ The Iran-backed Houthi rebels have been striking ships which they claim to have links with Israel and Western nations. The US and UK have claimed that the strikes are aimed at protecting the "free flow of commerce". In a joint statement, the Pentagon said that “an additional round of proportionate and necessary strikes" were carried out against the Houthis. "Our aim remains to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea, but let us reiterate our warning to Houthi leadership: we will not hesitate to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the world's most critical waterways in the face of continued threats,” the statement further read. This is the eighth strike launched by the US on Houthis in Yemen. This is also the second joint operation conducted by the US with the UK, after joint air strikes were launched on January 11. Watch: Gravitas: US Navy SEALs die during anti-Houthi operation. What's the real story? The joint statement claimed that the joint strikes were launched with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands. The strikes on Monday were carried out by US fighter jets from the carrier USS Eisenhower along with the UK’s four RAF Typhoons and a pair of Voyager tankers. "Our aircraft used Paveway IV precision-guided bombs to strike multiple targets at two military sites in the vicinity of Sanaa airfield. These locations were being used to enable the continued intolerable attacks against international shipping in the Red Sea," said the UK Ministry of Defence. "In line with UK standard practice, a very rigorous analysis was applied in planning the strikes to minimise any risk of civilian casualties, and as with the previous strikes, our aircraft bombed at night to mitigate yet further any such risks," it added. (With inputs from agencies)

US and UK conduct fresh series of air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen

The United States and Britain said that their second wave of coordinated military action against the rebels backed by Iran was in reaction to ongoing attacks on shipping when they conducted fresh strikes on the Houthis on Monday.

Houthis vow to respond 'to any attacks on Yemen', second round of joint airstrikes target rebels

<p>The US Navy has identified the two SEALs who went missing and were declared diseased during an operation to seize alleged Iranian weapons bound for Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the waters of the Gulf of Aden. US military on Sunday (Jan 21) had declared both of them dead after a 10-day search failed to locate them.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What happened to US Navy SEALs?</strong></h2>

<p>The US Central Command, on Sunday, announced the end of an exhaustive 10-day search and rescue operation, which involved multiple aircraft and surface ships to look for the two missing SEALs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The military is now conducting recovery operations for the two service members, said the CENTCOM.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;US says 2 Navy seals missing declared dead after anti-Houthi mission</strong></p>

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<p>The two service personnel were identified Monday (Jan 22) as Navy Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Christopher J Chambers and Navy Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class Nathan Gage Ingram.</p>

<p>The two SEALs were involved in a January 11 operation, during which the elite special operations personnel boarded a dhow off the coast of Somalia and seized missile components allegedly made in Iran.</p>

<p>This was “the first seizure of lethal, Iranian-supplied advanced conventional weapons...to the Houthis since the beginning of Houthi attacks against merchant ships in November 2023,” the CENTCOM had said earlier.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/two-missing-us-navy-seals-were-on-mission-to-stop-iranian-weapons-bound-for-houthi-rebels-us-680621">Two missing US Navy SEALs were on mission to stop Iranian weapons bound for Houthi rebels: US</a></strong></p>

<p>The Yemen-based Iran-backed Houthis have attacked ships in the Red Sea which they said is in solidarity with the Palestinian militant group Hamas amid its ongoing war with Israel in Gaza.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What we know about the two SEALs</strong></h2>

<p>According to US officials, the two SEALs were aboard a small Navy craft that was approaching the smuggling boat.</p>

<p>The SEALs were climbing up a vessel when one got knocked off by high waves in the Arabian Sea, reported the Associated Press.</p>

<p>Following protocol, a second SEAL dove into the water in an attempt to rescue him.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The incident is under investigation, said the US Navy on Monday.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-military-declares-two-navy-seals-lost-at-sea-deceased-682466">US military declares two Navy SEALs lost at sea ‘deceased’</a></strong></p>

<p>“They were exceptional warriors, cherished teammates, and dear friends to many within the Naval Special Warfare community,” said Captain Blake L. Chaney, commander of Naval Special Warfare Group 1, as quoted by CBS News.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Chambers and Ingram enlisted in the Navy in 2012 and 2019, respectively, according to US officials. Both of them were serving with a US West Coast-based SEAL team.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Chris and Gage selflessly served their country with unwavering professionalism and exceptional capabilities,” said Chaney.</p>

<p>He added, “This loss is devastating for NSW, our families, the special operations community, and across the nation.”</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The US Navy has identified the two SEALs who went missing and were declared diseased during an operation to seize alleged Iranian weapons bound for Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the waters of the Gulf of Aden.

The US Navy has identified the two SEALs who went missing and were declared diseased during an operation to seize alleged Iranian weapons bound for Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the waters of the Gulf of Aden. US military on Sunday (Jan 21) had declared both of them dead after a 10-day search failed to locate them. What happened to US Navy SEALs? The US Central Command, on Sunday, announced the end of an exhaustive 10-day search and rescue operation, which involved multiple aircraft and surface ships to look for the two missing SEALs. The military is now conducting recovery operations for the two service members, said the CENTCOM. WATCH | US says 2 Navy seals missing declared dead after anti-Houthi mission The two service personnel were identified Monday (Jan 22) as Navy Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Christopher J Chambers and Navy Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class Nathan Gage Ingram. The two SEALs were involved in a January 11 operation, during which the elite special operations personnel boarded a dhow off the coast of Somalia and seized missile components allegedly made in Iran. This was “the first seizure of lethal, Iranian-supplied advanced conventional weapons...to the Houthis since the beginning of Houthi attacks against merchant ships in November 2023,” the CENTCOM had said earlier. ALSO READ | Two missing US Navy SEALs were on mission to stop Iranian weapons bound for Houthi rebels: US The Yemen-based Iran-backed Houthis have attacked ships in the Red Sea which they said is in solidarity with the Palestinian militant group Hamas amid its ongoing war with Israel in Gaza. What we know about the two SEALs According to US officials, the two SEALs were aboard a small Navy craft that was approaching the smuggling boat. The SEALs were climbing up a vessel when one got knocked off by high waves in the Arabian Sea, reported the Associated Press. Following protocol, a second SEAL dove into the water in an attempt to rescue him. The incident is under investigation, said the US Navy on Monday. ALSO READ | US military declares two Navy SEALs lost at sea ‘deceased’ “They were exceptional warriors, cherished teammates, and dear friends to many within the Naval Special Warfare community,” said Captain Blake L. Chaney, commander of Naval Special Warfare Group 1, as quoted by CBS News. Chambers and Ingram enlisted in the Navy in 2012 and 2019, respectively, according to US officials. Both of them were serving with a US West Coast-based SEAL team. “Chris and Gage selflessly served their country with unwavering professionalism and exceptional capabilities,” said Chaney. He added, “This loss is devastating for NSW, our families, the special operations community, and across the nation.” (With inputs from agencies)

US Navy identifies two SEALs lost at sea during raid on ship allegedly carrying Iranian weapons

<p>Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebel group on Monday (Jan 22) claimed it carried out an attack against a US military cargo ship off the coast of Yemen.</p>

<p>"The Yemeni armed forces continue to retaliate to any American or British aggression against our country by targeting all sources of threat in the Red and Arab Sea," the Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said.</p>

<p>He further said that the rebel group "led a military operation targeting the American military cargo ship Ocean Jazz in the Gulf of Aden".</p>

<p>However, the United States rebuffed claims of the attack.</p>

<p>"We're not seeing that at all on our end and believe that statement to be untrue," news agency AFP quoted a US official as saying.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-dean-phillips-the-democrat-threatening-bidens-2024-bid-and-dividing-party-682531">Who is Dean Phillips? The Democrat threatening Biden’s 2024 bid and ‘dividing’ party</a></p>

<h2><strong>UK to spend millions for upgradation of missile system used in Red Sea</strong></h2>

<p>Meanwhile, the UK's Ministry of Defence on Sunday (Jan 21) announced that it would spend a total of $514 million (405 million pounds) to upgrade a projectile system that is currently being used by the Royal Navy to shoot down drones over the Red Sea.</p>

<p>The MoD said the Sea Viper Air Defence system would be upgraded with missiles featuring a new warhead and software that will allow it to counter ballistic missile threats.</p>

<p>The contracts were awarded to the British division of MBDA, a missiles joint venture owned by Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo, the statement further added.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | US &amp; Britain unleash typhoons, Tomahawks &amp; nuclear submarine on Houthis in Yemen</strong></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>"As the situation in the Middle East worsens, it is vital that we adapt to keep the UK, our allies and partners safe," Defence Minister Grant Shapps said in the statement.</p>

<p>"Sea Viper has been at the forefront of this, being the Navy's weapon of choice in the first shooting down of an aerial threat in more than 30 years."</p>

<p>The announcement comes amid tensions in the Red Sea region after the United States and Britain launched retaliatory coalition strikes and shot down drones by Houthis as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to rage on.</p>

<p>Earlier on Saturday (Jan 20), the United States had launched fresh strikes on Houthi rebels targeting an anti-ship ballistic missile, which as per the US army, was aimed into the Gulf of Aden and was preparing to launch.</p>

<p>"US forces determined the missile presented a threat to merchant vessels and US Navy ships in the region and subsequently struck and destroyed the missile in self-defence," the US Central Command said in a statement on X.</p>

<h2><strong>Strikes against Houthis to continue,&nbsp;says Biden</strong></h2>

<p>US President Joe Biden on Thursday (Jan 18) said that the military strikes against the Houthis would continue as he said that the rebel group was still attacking vessels in the Red Sea.</p>

<p>"When you say 'working, are they stopping the Houthi?' No. Are they going to continue? Yes," Biden told reporters at the White House when asked if the strikes were working.</p>

<p>Washington on Wednesday (Jan 17) re-designated the Houthis as a "terrorist group" and hit 14 Houthi missiles later the same day. &nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebel group on Monday (Jan 22) claimed it carried out an attack against a US military cargo ship off the coast of Yemen. "The Yemeni armed forces continue to retaliate to any American or British aggression against our country by targeting all sources of threat in the Red and Arab Sea," the Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said.

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebel group on Monday (Jan 22) claimed it carried out an attack against a US military cargo ship off the coast of Yemen. "The Yemeni armed forces continue to retaliate to any American or British aggression against our country by targeting all sources of threat in the Red and Arab Sea," the Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said. He further said that the rebel group "led a military operation targeting the American military cargo ship Ocean Jazz in the Gulf of Aden". However, the United States rebuffed claims of the attack. "We're not seeing that at all on our end and believe that statement to be untrue," news agency AFP quoted a US official as saying. Also read: Who is Dean Phillips? The Democrat threatening Biden’s 2024 bid and ‘dividing’ party UK to spend millions for upgradation of missile system used in Red Sea Meanwhile, the UK's Ministry of Defence on Sunday (Jan 21) announced that it would spend a total of $514 million (405 million pounds) to upgrade a projectile system that is currently being used by the Royal Navy to shoot down drones over the Red Sea. The MoD said the Sea Viper Air Defence system would be upgraded with missiles featuring a new warhead and software that will allow it to counter ballistic missile threats. The contracts were awarded to the British division of MBDA, a missiles joint venture owned by Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo, the statement further added. Watch | US & Britain unleash typhoons, Tomahawks & nuclear submarine on Houthis in Yemen × "As the situation in the Middle East worsens, it is vital that we adapt to keep the UK, our allies and partners safe," Defence Minister Grant Shapps said in the statement. "Sea Viper has been at the forefront of this, being the Navy's weapon of choice in the first shooting down of an aerial threat in more than 30 years." The announcement comes amid tensions in the Red Sea region after the United States and Britain launched retaliatory coalition strikes and shot down drones by Houthis as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to rage on. Earlier on Saturday (Jan 20), the United States had launched fresh strikes on Houthi rebels targeting an anti-ship ballistic missile, which as per the US army, was aimed into the Gulf of Aden and was preparing to launch. "US forces determined the missile presented a threat to merchant vessels and US Navy ships in the region and subsequently struck and destroyed the missile in self-defence," the US Central Command said in a statement on X. Strikes against Houthis to continue, says Biden US President Joe Biden on Thursday (Jan 18) said that the military strikes against the Houthis would continue as he said that the rebel group was still attacking vessels in the Red Sea. "When you say 'working, are they stopping the Houthi?' No. Are they going to continue? Yes," Biden told reporters at the White House when asked if the strikes were working. Washington on Wednesday (Jan 17) re-designated the Houthis as a "terrorist group" and hit 14 Houthi missiles later the same day. (With inputs from agencies)

Yemen's Houthi rebel group claims it attacked US military ship in Gulf of Aden, Washington denies

<p>UK's Ministry of Defence on Sunday (Jan 21) announced its expenditure to upgrade a projectile system, that currently is being used by the Royal Navy, to shoot down drones over the Red Sea.</p>

<p>Britain's Ministry of Defence said that it would spend a total of $514 million (405 million pounds) on the Sea Viper Air Defence system.</p>

<p>The MoD released a statement saying that Sea Viper would be upgraded with missiles featuring a new warhead and software that will allow it to counter ballistic missile threats.</p>

<p>The contracts were awarded to the British division of MBDA, a missiles joint venture owned by Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo, the statement further added.</p>

<p>"As the situation in the Middle East worsens, it is vital that we adapt to keep the UK, our allies and partners safe," Defence Minister Grant Shapps said in the statement.</p>

<p>"Sea Viper has been at the forefront of this, being the Navy's weapon of choice in the first shooting down of an aerial threat in more than 30 years."</p>

<p>The announcement comes amid tensions in the Red Sea region after the United States and Britain launched retaliatory coalition strikes and shot down drones by Yemen's Houthi rebel group as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to heighten.</p>

<p>Earlier, on Saturday (Jan 20), the United States had launched fresh strikes on Yemen's Houthi rebels targeting an anti-ship ballistic missile, which as per the US army, was aimed into the Gulf of Aden and was prepared to launch.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-25-killed-20-injured-after-ukraine-shells-russian-controlled-city-of-donetsk-682073">At least 25 killed in Ukraine shelling on Russian-controlled city of Donetsk</a></p>

<p>"US forces determined the missile presented a threat to merchant vessels and US Navy ships in the region and subsequently struck and destroyed the missile in self-defence," the U.S. Central Command said in a statement on X.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">U.S. CENTCOM Destroys Houthi Terrorists' Anti-Ship Missile<br />
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As part of ongoing efforts to protect freedom of navigation and prevent attacks on maritime vessels, on Jan. 20 at approximately 4 a.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command forces conducted airstrikes against a Houthi… <a href="https://t.co/NYWPHyf7qN">pic.twitter.com/NYWPHyf7qN</a></p>
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) <a href="https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/1748726814334214404?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Friday (Jan 19), US Central Command forces conducted strikes against three Houthi anti-ship missiles that they said were aimed into the Southern Red Sea.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;US &amp; Britain unleash typhoons, Tomahawks &amp; nuclear submarine on Houthis in Yemen</strong></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>‘Strikes against Houthis to continue,’ says Biden</strong></h2>

<p>United States President Joe Biden on Thursday (Jan 18) said that the military strikes against the Houthis would continue as he said that the rebel group was still attacking vessels in the Red Sea.</p>

<p>"When you say 'working, are they stopping the Houthi?' No. Are they going to continue? Yes," Biden told reporters at the White House when asked if the strikes were working.</p>

<p>Washington on Wednesday (Jan 17) re-designated the Houthis as a "terrorist group" and hit 14 Houthi missiles later the same day. &nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


UK's Ministry of Defence on Sunday (Jan 21) announced its expenditure to upgrade a projectile system, that currently is being used by the Royal Navy, to shoot down drones over the Red Sea.

UK's Ministry of Defence on Sunday (Jan 21) announced its expenditure to upgrade a projectile system, that currently is being used by the Royal Navy, to shoot down drones over the Red Sea. Britain's Ministry of Defence said that it would spend a total of $514 million (405 million pounds) on the Sea Viper Air Defence system. The MoD released a statement saying that Sea Viper would be upgraded with missiles featuring a new warhead and software that will allow it to counter ballistic missile threats. The contracts were awarded to the British division of MBDA, a missiles joint venture owned by Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo, the statement further added. "As the situation in the Middle East worsens, it is vital that we adapt to keep the UK, our allies and partners safe," Defence Minister Grant Shapps said in the statement. "Sea Viper has been at the forefront of this, being the Navy's weapon of choice in the first shooting down of an aerial threat in more than 30 years." The announcement comes amid tensions in the Red Sea region after the United States and Britain launched retaliatory coalition strikes and shot down drones by Yemen's Houthi rebel group as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to heighten. Earlier, on Saturday (Jan 20), the United States had launched fresh strikes on Yemen's Houthi rebels targeting an anti-ship ballistic missile, which as per the US army, was aimed into the Gulf of Aden and was prepared to launch. Also read: At least 25 killed in Ukraine shelling on Russian-controlled city of Donetsk "US forces determined the missile presented a threat to merchant vessels and US Navy ships in the region and subsequently struck and destroyed the missile in self-defence," the U.S. Central Command said in a statement on X. U.S. CENTCOM Destroys Houthi Terrorists' Anti-Ship Missile As part of ongoing efforts to protect freedom of navigation and prevent attacks on maritime vessels, on Jan. 20 at approximately 4 a.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command forces conducted airstrikes against a Houthi… pic.twitter.com/NYWPHyf7qN — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 20, 2024 × On Friday (Jan 19), US Central Command forces conducted strikes against three Houthi anti-ship missiles that they said were aimed into the Southern Red Sea. Watch | US & Britain unleash typhoons, Tomahawks & nuclear submarine on Houthis in Yemen × ‘Strikes against Houthis to continue,’ says Biden United States President Joe Biden on Thursday (Jan 18) said that the military strikes against the Houthis would continue as he said that the rebel group was still attacking vessels in the Red Sea. "When you say 'working, are they stopping the Houthi?' No. Are they going to continue? Yes," Biden told reporters at the White House when asked if the strikes were working. Washington on Wednesday (Jan 17) re-designated the Houthis as a "terrorist group" and hit 14 Houthi missiles later the same day. (With inputs from agencies)

UK to spend millions for upgradation of missile system used in Red Sea amid rising tensions

<p>United States on Saturday (Jan 20) launched fresh strike on Yemen's Houthi rebels targeting an anti-ship ballistic missile, which as per US army, was aimed into the Gulf of Aden and prepared to launch.</p>

<p>"US forces determined the missile presented a threat to merchant vessels and US Navy ships in the region, and subsequently struck and destroyed the missile in self-defense," the U.S. Central Command said in a statement on X.</p>

<p>This came amid heightening tensions in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden that have caused disruptions in the global trade and has raised concerns over supply chain bottlenecks.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">U.S. CENTCOM Destroys Houthi Terrorists' Anti-Ship Missile<br />
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As part of ongoing efforts to protect freedom of navigation and prevent attacks on maritime vessels, on Jan. 20 at approximately 4 a.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command forces conducted airstrikes against a Houthi… <a href="https://t.co/NYWPHyf7qN">pic.twitter.com/NYWPHyf7qN</a></p>
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) <a href="https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/1748726814334214404?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier on Friday (Jan 19), US Central Command forces conducted strikes against three Houthi anti-ship missiles that they said were aimed into the Southern Red Sea.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-launches-satellite-places-it-in-750-km-orbit-official-news-agency-681887">Iran launches satellite, places it in 750 km orbit: Official news agency</a></p>

<h2><strong>‘Strikes against Houthis to continue,’ says Biden</strong></h2>

<p>United States President Joe Biden on Thursday (Jan 18) said that the military strikes against the Houthis would continue as he said that the rebel group was still attacking vessels in the Red Sea.</p>

<p>"When you say 'working, are they stopping the Houthi?' No. Are they going to continue? Yes," Biden told reporters at the White House when asked if the strikes were working.</p>

<p>Washington on Wednesday (Jan 17) re-designated the Houthis as a "terrorist group" and hit 14 Houthi missiles later the same day. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Houthi rebels target US vessel, Indian Navy warship moves to assist attacked vessel</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>Missiles hit US-led coalition base in Iraq</strong></h2>

<p>Meanwhile, on Saturday, missiles were launched targeting a military base used by US-led coalition forces in western Iraq, a US defence source and Iraqi police told news agency AFP.</p>

<p>"Al-Asad airbase was targeted by 15 rockets" that were fired from Anbar province, where the military base is located, he said.</p>

<p>He further added that 13 of the projectiles were shot down by anti-air defences but "two fell on the airbase".</p>

<p>There have been dozens of attacks on United States and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria since the war broke out between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas.</p>

<p>"Islamic Resistance in Iraq" has claimed responsibility for the majority of the attacks aimed at US troops.</p>

<p>This is an alliance of Iran-linked armed groups that are against US support for Israel in the Gaza war.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


United States on Saturday (Jan 20) launched fresh strike on Yemen's Houthi rebels targeting an anti-ship ballistic missile, which as per US army, was aimed into the Gulf of Aden and prepared to launch.

United States on Saturday (Jan 20) launched fresh strike on Yemen's Houthi rebels targeting an anti-ship ballistic missile, which as per US army, was aimed into the Gulf of Aden and prepared to launch. "US forces determined the missile presented a threat to merchant vessels and US Navy ships in the region, and subsequently struck and destroyed the missile in self-defense," the U.S. Central Command said in a statement on X. This came amid heightening tensions in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden that have caused disruptions in the global trade and has raised concerns over supply chain bottlenecks. U.S. CENTCOM Destroys Houthi Terrorists' Anti-Ship Missile As part of ongoing efforts to protect freedom of navigation and prevent attacks on maritime vessels, on Jan. 20 at approximately 4 a.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command forces conducted airstrikes against a Houthi… pic.twitter.com/NYWPHyf7qN — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 20, 2024 × Earlier on Friday (Jan 19), US Central Command forces conducted strikes against three Houthi anti-ship missiles that they said were aimed into the Southern Red Sea. Also read: Iran launches satellite, places it in 750 km orbit: Official news agency ‘Strikes against Houthis to continue,’ says Biden United States President Joe Biden on Thursday (Jan 18) said that the military strikes against the Houthis would continue as he said that the rebel group was still attacking vessels in the Red Sea. "When you say 'working, are they stopping the Houthi?' No. Are they going to continue? Yes," Biden told reporters at the White House when asked if the strikes were working. Washington on Wednesday (Jan 17) re-designated the Houthis as a "terrorist group" and hit 14 Houthi missiles later the same day. Watch | Houthi rebels target US vessel, Indian Navy warship moves to assist attacked vessel × Missiles hit US-led coalition base in Iraq Meanwhile, on Saturday, missiles were launched targeting a military base used by US-led coalition forces in western Iraq, a US defence source and Iraqi police told news agency AFP. "Al-Asad airbase was targeted by 15 rockets" that were fired from Anbar province, where the military base is located, he said. He further added that 13 of the projectiles were shot down by anti-air defences but "two fell on the airbase". There have been dozens of attacks on United States and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria since the war broke out between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas. "Islamic Resistance in Iraq" has claimed responsibility for the majority of the attacks aimed at US troops. This is an alliance of Iran-linked armed groups that are against US support for Israel in the Gaza war. (With inputs from agencies)

US hits another Houthi anti-ship missile aimed into the Gulf of Aden

The United States carried out fresh strikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels Saturday, the military said, targeting an anti-ship missile that was "prepared to launch."

US strikes Houthis in Yemen again, American central command confirms

US central command confirms Saturday's strike on Houthi targets

<p>Commanders from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and Lebanon's Hezbollah group are on the ground in Yemen helping to direct and oversee Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping, four regional and two Iranian sources told Reuters.</p>

<p>Iran - which has armed, trained and funded the Houthis - stepped up its weapons supplies to the militia in the wake of the war in Gaza, which erupted after Iranian-backed militants of&nbsp; Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, the four regional sources said.</p>

<p>Tehran has provided advanced drones, anti-ship cruise missiles, precision-strike ballistic missiles and medium-range missiles to the Houthis, who started targeting commercial vessels in November in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, the sources said.</p>

<p>IRGC commanders and advisers are also providing know-how, data and intelligence support to determine which of the dozens of vessels travelling through the Red Sea each day are destined for Israel and constitute Houthi targets, all the sources said.</p>

<p>Washington said last month that Iran was deeply involved in planning operations against shipping in the Red Sea and that its intelligence was critical in enabling&nbsp;the Houthis to target ships.</p>

<p>In response to a request for comment for this story, the White House pointed to its previous public comments about how Iran has been supporting the Houthis.</p>

<p>In his weekly news conferences, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani has repeatedly denied Tehran is involved in the Red Sea attacks by the Houthis. The IRGC public relations office did not respond to request for comment.</p>

<p>Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam denied any Iranian or Hezbollah involvement in helping to direct the Red Sea attacks. A Hezbollah spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.</p>

<p>The Houthis, who emerged in the 1980s as an armed group in opposition to Saudi Arabia's Sunni religious influence in Yemen, say they are supporting Hamas by striking commercial ships they say are either linked to Israel or are heading to Israeli ports.</p>

<p>Their attacks have affected global shipping between Asia and Europe through the Bab al-Mandab strait off Yemen. That has triggered U.S. and British air strikes on Houthi targets in the country, opening a new theatre of conflict linked to the war in Gaza.</p>

<p>The Gaza conflict has also sparked clashes between Israel and Hezbollah militants along the Lebanese border, as well as attacks by Iran-linked groups on U.S. targets in Iraq and Syria.</p>

<p>"The Revolutionary Guards have been helping the Houthis with military training (on advanced weapons)," an Iranian insider told Reuters. "A group of Houthi fighters were in Iran last month and were trained in an IRGC base in central Iran to get familiar with the new technology and the use of missiles."</p>

<p>The person said Iranian commanders had travelled to Yemen as well and set up a command centre in the capital Sanaa for the Red Sea attacks which is being run by the senior IRGC commander responsible for Yemen.</p>

<h2><strong>Regional Strategy</strong></h2>

<p>The Red Sea attacks fit in with Iran's strategy of expanding and mobilising its regional Shi'ite network of armed militias to project its influence and show its ability to threaten maritime security in the region and beyond, two analysts said.</p>

<p>They said Tehran wanted to show that the Gaza war could be too costly for the West if it drags on - and could have catastrophic consequences in the region as things escalate.</p>

<p>"The Houthis are not acting independently," said Abdulaziz al-Sager, director of the Gulf Research Center think-tank, who based his conclusion on a close analysis of the capabilities of the group, which has an estimated 20,000 fighters.</p>

<p>"The Houthis, with their personnel, expertise and capabilities are not that advanced. Dozens of vessels cross through Bab al-Mandab daily, the Houthis don't have the means, resources, knowledge or satellite information to find the specific target and attack," he said.</p>

<p>White House national security spokeswoman Adrienne Watson also said last month that Iranian-provided tactical intelligence had been critical in enabling the Houthis to target ships.</p>

<p>According to two former Yemeni army sources, there is a clear presence of IRGC and Hezbollah members in Yemen. They are responsible for supervising military operations, training and reassembling missiles smuggled into Yemen as separate pieces, the two people said.</p>

<p>Abdulghani Al-Iryani, a senior researcher at the Sana'a Center for Strategic Studies, an independent think-tank, said: "It is clearly the case that the Iranians are helping identify the target and the destination. There is no local Houthi capacity to do that."</p>

<p>One senior regional source who follows Iran and who spoke on condition of anonymity said: "The political decision is in Tehran, the management is Hezbollah, and the location is the Houthis in Yemen."</p>

<h2><strong>Weapons and advice</strong></h2>

<p>Houthi spokesperson Abdulsalam said the group's aim was to target Israeli ships heading to Israel without causing any human or significant material losses. U.S. and British strikes on Yemen would not force them to back down, he said.</p>

<p>"We don't deny that we have a relationship with Iran and that we have benefited from the Iranian experience in training and military manufacturing and capabilities but the decision taken by Yemen is an independent one that has nothing to do with any other party," he said.</p>

<p>But a security official close to Iran said: "The Houthis have drones, missiles and everything needed for their fight against Israel but they needed guidance and advice on shipping routes and ships, so it has been provided to them by Iran."</p>

<p>When asked what kind of advice Tehran offered, he said it was similar to the advisory role taken by Iran in Syria, ranging from training to overseeing operations when needed.</p>

<p>"A group of Iranian Guards members are in Sanaa now to help the operations," the security official said.</p>

<p>Iran sent hundreds of Revolutionary Guards to Syria, alongside thousands of Hezbollah fighters, to help train and organise Shi'ite militia fighters from Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan to prevent the downfall of President Bashar al-Assad during the Sunni-led insurgency that erupted in 2011.</p>

<p>Washington and Gulf Arab states have repeatedly accused Iran of arming, training and financing the Houthis, who follow an offshoot of Shi'ite Islam and are aligned with Tehran as part of its anti-Western, anti-Israel "Axis of Resistance" alongside Lebanon's Hezbollah and groups in Syria and Iraq.</p>

<p>While Iran has denied having any direct role in the Red Sea attacks, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has praised the Houthis, whose Zaidi sect is an offshoot of Shi'ism, saying he hoped their strikes would last "until victory".</p>

<h2><strong>Train and Equip&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>A leader within the coalition of pro-Iranian groups denied there were any commanders from the IRGC or Hezbollah on the ground in Yemen right now.</p>

<p>He said a team of Iranian and Hezbollah military experts had gone to Yemen earlier in its civil war to train, equip and build the manufacturing military capability of the Houthis.</p>

<p>"They came and helped the Houthis and left, just as they did with Hezbollah and Hamas," he said, adding that the military capabilities of the Houthis should not be underestimated.</p>

<p>The person said the Houthis knew the terrain and the sea well and already had the systems in place for attacking ships, including high-precision equipment from Iran.</p>

<p>During the chaotic years after the 2011 Arab Spring uprising in Yemen, the Houthis tightened their grip on the country's north and seized the capital Sanaa in 2014, pushing a Saudi-led coalition to intervene militarily months later.</p>

<p>When Hamas attacked Israel, Iran had little choice but to demonstrate support for the Palestinian group after years of anti-Israel rhetoric but was worried that using Hezbollah would trigger massive Israeli retaliation, analysts said.</p>

<p>Iryani at the Sana'a Center for Strategic Studies said a major war between Israel and Hezbollah would be disastrous for Lebanon - and endanger the future of the group that has become the most important in Iran's "Axis of Resistance".</p>

<p>By contrast, the Houthis were in a unique strategic position to have a huge impact by disrupting global maritime activity with little effort, he said.</p>


Commanders from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and Lebanon's Hezbollah group are on the ground in Yemen helping to direct and oversee Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping, four regional and two Iranian sources told Reuters.

Commanders from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and Lebanon's Hezbollah group are on the ground in Yemen helping to direct and oversee Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping, four regional and two Iranian sources told Reuters. Iran - which has armed, trained and funded the Houthis - stepped up its weapons supplies to the militia in the wake of the war in Gaza, which erupted after Iranian-backed militants of Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, the four regional sources said. Tehran has provided advanced drones, anti-ship cruise missiles, precision-strike ballistic missiles and medium-range missiles to the Houthis, who started targeting commercial vessels in November in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, the sources said. IRGC commanders and advisers are also providing know-how, data and intelligence support to determine which of the dozens of vessels travelling through the Red Sea each day are destined for Israel and constitute Houthi targets, all the sources said. Washington said last month that Iran was deeply involved in planning operations against shipping in the Red Sea and that its intelligence was critical in enabling the Houthis to target ships. In response to a request for comment for this story, the White House pointed to its previous public comments about how Iran has been supporting the Houthis. In his weekly news conferences, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani has repeatedly denied Tehran is involved in the Red Sea attacks by the Houthis. The IRGC public relations office did not respond to request for comment. Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam denied any Iranian or Hezbollah involvement in helping to direct the Red Sea attacks. A Hezbollah spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. The Houthis, who emerged in the 1980s as an armed group in opposition to Saudi Arabia's Sunni religious influence in Yemen, say they are supporting Hamas by striking commercial ships they say are either linked to Israel or are heading to Israeli ports. Their attacks have affected global shipping between Asia and Europe through the Bab al-Mandab strait off Yemen. That has triggered U.S. and British air strikes on Houthi targets in the country, opening a new theatre of conflict linked to the war in Gaza. The Gaza conflict has also sparked clashes between Israel and Hezbollah militants along the Lebanese border, as well as attacks by Iran-linked groups on U.S. targets in Iraq and Syria. "The Revolutionary Guards have been helping the Houthis with military training (on advanced weapons)," an Iranian insider told Reuters. "A group of Houthi fighters were in Iran last month and were trained in an IRGC base in central Iran to get familiar with the new technology and the use of missiles." The person said Iranian commanders had travelled to Yemen as well and set up a command centre in the capital Sanaa for the Red Sea attacks which is being run by the senior IRGC commander responsible for Yemen. Regional Strategy The Red Sea attacks fit in with Iran's strategy of expanding and mobilising its regional Shi'ite network of armed militias to project its influence and show its ability to threaten maritime security in the region and beyond, two analysts said. They said Tehran wanted to show that the Gaza war could be too costly for the West if it drags on - and could have catastrophic consequences in the region as things escalate. "The Houthis are not acting independently," said Abdulaziz al-Sager, director of the Gulf Research Center think-tank, who based his conclusion on a close analysis of the capabilities of the group, which has an estimated 20,000 fighters. "The Houthis, with their personnel, expertise and capabilities are not that advanced. Dozens of vessels cross through Bab al-Mandab daily, the Houthis don't have the means, resources, knowledge or satellite information to find the specific target and attack," he said. White House national security spokeswoman Adrienne Watson also said last month that Iranian-provided tactical intelligence had been critical in enabling the Houthis to target ships. According to two former Yemeni army sources, there is a clear presence of IRGC and Hezbollah members in Yemen. They are responsible for supervising military operations, training and reassembling missiles smuggled into Yemen as separate pieces, the two people said. Abdulghani Al-Iryani, a senior researcher at the Sana'a Center for Strategic Studies, an independent think-tank, said: "It is clearly the case that the Iranians are helping identify the target and the destination. There is no local Houthi capacity to do that." One senior regional source who follows Iran and who spoke on condition of anonymity said: "The political decision is in Tehran, the management is Hezbollah, and the location is the Houthis in Yemen." Weapons and advice Houthi spokesperson Abdulsalam said the group's aim was to target Israeli ships heading to Israel without causing any human or significant material losses. U.S. and British strikes on Yemen would not force them to back down, he said. "We don't deny that we have a relationship with Iran and that we have benefited from the Iranian experience in training and military manufacturing and capabilities but the decision taken by Yemen is an independent one that has nothing to do with any other party," he said. But a security official close to Iran said: "The Houthis have drones, missiles and everything needed for their fight against Israel but they needed guidance and advice on shipping routes and ships, so it has been provided to them by Iran." When asked what kind of advice Tehran offered, he said it was similar to the advisory role taken by Iran in Syria, ranging from training to overseeing operations when needed. "A group of Iranian Guards members are in Sanaa now to help the operations," the security official said. Iran sent hundreds of Revolutionary Guards to Syria, alongside thousands of Hezbollah fighters, to help train and organise Shi'ite militia fighters from Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan to prevent the downfall of President Bashar al-Assad during the Sunni-led insurgency that erupted in 2011. Washington and Gulf Arab states have repeatedly accused Iran of arming, training and financing the Houthis, who follow an offshoot of Shi'ite Islam and are aligned with Tehran as part of its anti-Western, anti-Israel "Axis of Resistance" alongside Lebanon's Hezbollah and groups in Syria and Iraq. While Iran has denied having any direct role in the Red Sea attacks, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has praised the Houthis, whose Zaidi sect is an offshoot of Shi'ism, saying he hoped their strikes would last "until victory". Train and Equip A leader within the coalition of pro-Iranian groups denied there were any commanders from the IRGC or Hezbollah on the ground in Yemen right now. He said a team of Iranian and Hezbollah military experts had gone to Yemen earlier in its civil war to train, equip and build the manufacturing military capability of the Houthis. "They came and helped the Houthis and left, just as they did with Hezbollah and Hamas," he said, adding that the military capabilities of the Houthis should not be underestimated. The person said the Houthis knew the terrain and the sea well and already had the systems in place for attacking ships, including high-precision equipment from Iran. During the chaotic years after the 2011 Arab Spring uprising in Yemen, the Houthis tightened their grip on the country's north and seized the capital Sanaa in 2014, pushing a Saudi-led coalition to intervene militarily months later. When Hamas attacked Israel, Iran had little choice but to demonstrate support for the Palestinian group after years of anti-Israel rhetoric but was worried that using Hezbollah would trigger massive Israeli retaliation, analysts said. Iryani at the Sana'a Center for Strategic Studies said a major war between Israel and Hezbollah would be disastrous for Lebanon - and endanger the future of the group that has become the most important in Iran's "Axis of Resistance". By contrast, the Houthis were in a unique strategic position to have a huge impact by disrupting global maritime activity with little effort, he said.

Iranian and Hezbollah commanders help direct Houthi attacks in Yemen: Report

The United States carried out a fresh round of attack against the Houthi rebels in Yemen destroying three anti-ship missiles in the Red Sea. Watch this report to know more.

Red Sea Crisis: US destroys three Houthi anti-ship missiles in Red Sea

The Yemen-based Houthi rebels, targeted American ship Chem Ranger in the Gulf of Aden with missiles. According to the Houthi spokesperson warned that attacks on American and British ships are inevitable and that any new aggression will not go "unpunished." This new attack by the Houthis, came after the U.S. struck Houthi targets on Thursday. This even as U.S. maintains that it is not at war with Houthis.

Gravitas: Houthi missile hits American ship as Biden admits 'airstrikes not working'

Another week, another incident of escalation across a key maritime trade route. US Military struck several Houthi bases in Yemen, but the rebel group continues its attack on israel-affiliated shipping vessels. Can the West deter the Iran-backed group, or is it just triggering further escalations?

U.S. strikes Houthi stronghold in Yemen

The Iran-backed Houthi militia launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles at a US-owned tanker ship late on Thursday that hit the water near the vessel but caused no injuries or damage.

Red Sea Crisis: Houthi-fired another missile strikes on US-owned vessel

US military says American forces on Wednesday carried out strikes on 14 missiles in Yemen that were ready to be launched and posed a threat to civilian and military vessels . The same day, US relisted the Iran-backed rebels as global terrorists, which was followed by another Houthi attack on a US-owned commercial ship in the Gulf of Aden.

Red Sea Crisis: US in new strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen

<p>The United States on Wednesday (Jan 17) re-listed Yemen's Houthis, an Iran-backed group comprising individuals of the Zaydi sect within Shi'ite Islam, as a specially designated global terrorist group.&nbsp;The White House cited "unprecedented attacks against United States military forces and international maritime vessels operating in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden", one of the world's most crucial shipping routes for global trade.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Yemen's Houthi rebels, who control most of the country's north as well as the strategically valuable Bab al-Mandeb Strait, vowed in November 2023 that they would target Israel-linked ships in the Red Sea in response to Israeli military operations in Gaza.<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/12/25/401386-untitled-design-2023-12-25t002340471.png?imwidth=3840" /></p>

<p>However, the United States claims that ships linked to 55 states worldwide have been attacked as of Jan 15, 2024.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Situation in Yemen: Between January 2021 and April 2022</strong></h2>

<p>Originally known as Ansar Allah (Partisans of God), the US <a href="https://2017-2021.state.gov/terrorist-designation-of-ansarallah-in-yemen/">designated</a> Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) on January 10, 2021, during the last few days of the Trump administration. The group had been in a years-long civil war with the internationally recognised Saudi-backed Yemeni government that led to an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the region.</p>

<p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/red-sea-ship-attacks-inside-disrupted-shipping-route-over-west-asias-gate-of-tears-673216"><strong>Red Sea ship attacks: Inside disrupted shipping route through West Asia's 'gate of tears'</strong></a></p>

<p>A little more than a month later in February 2021, the US State Department under President Joe Biden, citing the need to facilitate aid delivery into Yemen, <a href="https://www.state.gov/revocation-of-the-terrorist-designations-of-ansarallah/">removed</a> the SDGT designation and also de-listed Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) status for the Houthis.</p>

<p>Between February 2021 and April 2022, the Houthis continued to expand their territorial hold in Yemen amid failed efforts by the UN and US envoys to engineer a truce.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="A Satellite view of West Asia | GoogleEarth" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0f9cc9c4-9564-4912-8604-306dbb5384d7" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202024-01-18T071512.173.png" /></p>

<p><em>A Satellite view of West Asia | GoogleEarth</em></p>

<p>The de-listing of Houthis as "terrorists" in February 2021 occurred owing to the pressure the Biden administration faced as Houthis disallowed any aid from reaching Yemen's people, said Kabir Taneja, Fellow, Strategic Studies Programme at Observer Research Foundation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"This also helped Saudis, who are in open negotiations with the Houthis after being at war with them since 2015," Taneja added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In April 2022, the internationally-recognised Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi ceded power to a presidential council, and a truce was agreed upon.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This truce, although fragile, continues to hold to date amid signs of its sustenance with successful prisoner exchange&nbsp;efforts&nbsp;between the two warring sides.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Israel-Hamas war: Why Houthis have been re-listed as 'terrorists' by the US?</strong></h2>

<p>On January 17, 2024, the White House designated Houthis as a 'Specially Designated Global Terrorist' (SDGT) entity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Hours before the above development, Taneja described such occurrence as a "direct consequence of the campaign of Houthis against international shipping in the Red Sea".</p>

<p>The attack by Houthis on merchant shipping vessels&nbsp;on the Red Sea shipping route&nbsp;— the passage to 12 per cent of the world's ship-borne trade&nbsp;— has increased shipping costs by up to 60 per cent for the goods destined for Europe from Asia, according to Container xChange, an online container logistics platform for container trading and container leasing.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Implications for the region</strong></h2>

<p>The truce brokered in April 2022 between warring parties in the Yemeni civil war was engineered following years of Saudi-led negotiations.</p>

<p>"The Houthis have been involved in substantive negotiations with Saudi Arabia, a US ally, over a Saudi withdrawal from Yemen, which the US supports. That wouldn't be a good time to make such a designation," said Joost R. Hiltermann, Program Director, Middle East and North Africa at International Crisis Group.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"From our perspective, such designations are counter-productive, also because there is no commonly accepted definition of 'terrorist organisation', a highly politicised term," Hiltermann added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Houthis have grown into the most powerful war machine in Yemen whose threat to the shipping lanes in the Red Sea has forced the United States to form a multinational naval task force to counter them.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The Biden administration had no intention of making such a designation lightly against any group, without a provocation,"&nbsp;Hiltermann said.</p>

<h2><strong>How powerful are Houthis: Challenges and Asymmetry</strong></h2>

<p>Weeks before the October 7 attack by Hamas on southern Israel that pushed the region to the worst state of war in decades, the Houthis on September 21 held a parade in Yemeni capital Sana'a. The parade showed weapon systems in the hands of an irregular army.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thread: 1/ Geolocation of the Houthis' SEP 21, 2023 military parade in As Sabain, Sanaa, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Yemen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Yemen</a>.<br />
Coords: 15.324805, 44.205419<br />
This thread will ID arms &amp; vehicles at the event &amp; discuss notable trends. <a href="https://t.co/j0luwfYWFt">pic.twitter.com/j0luwfYWFt</a></p>
— Joshua Koontz (@JoshuaKoontz__) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshuaKoontz__/status/1704842511473049769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>There were Mi-8 transportation helicopters as well as the Malah boats, often deployed to lay mines in the sea.</p>

<p>Houthis are now attacking these shipping lanes with the naval mines and airpower they have acquired over the years.</p>

<p>Some other weapons systems the Houthis have&nbsp;include the Fledermaus Radar, surface-to-air missiles, improvised armour, and T-55 tanks.</p>

<p>The Houthis also have Tochka ballistic missiles and F-5 supersonic light fighter aircraft. There also are Iranian-origin Hatem/Khaybar Shekan and Badr-4 ballistic missiles.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They also have passive infrared tracking systems, drones, loitering munitions, and Iran-origin Shahab 3/Ghadr missiles, besides an unspecified but large number of Raqeeb UAVs, which can have a range of up to 1,400 km.</p>

<p>Such vast expansion of Houthis' capacities, as shown by their arsenal,&nbsp;characterises&nbsp;Iran's support for the movement. Tehran looks at the Houthis, a revivalist Shia movement, as a wider part of its resistance against the US and Israel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Houthis have benefited from structural and institutional support from Iran. This has allowed them to gain capacities ranging from ballistic and anti-ship missiles to underwater weapons and drones. Without Iranian help, all this would not be possible," Taneja said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>Note: The story has been updated to reflect the asymmetric security challenge posed by Houthis in West Asia.</em></p>


The United States on Wednesday (Jan 17) re-listed Yemen's Houthis, an Iran-backed group comprising individuals of the Zaydi sect within Shi'ite Islam, as a specially designated global terrorist group.

The United States on Wednesday (Jan 17) re-listed Yemen's Houthis, an Iran-backed group comprising individuals of the Zaydi sect within Shi'ite Islam, as a specially designated global terrorist group. The White House cited "unprecedented attacks against United States military forces and international maritime vessels operating in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden", one of the world's most crucial shipping routes for global trade. Yemen's Houthi rebels, who control most of the country's north as well as the strategically valuable Bab al-Mandeb Strait, vowed in November 2023 that they would target Israel-linked ships in the Red Sea in response to Israeli military operations in Gaza. However, the United States claims that ships linked to 55 states worldwide have been attacked as of Jan 15, 2024. Situation in Yemen: Between January 2021 and April 2022 Originally known as Ansar Allah (Partisans of God), the US designated Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) on January 10, 2021, during the last few days of the Trump administration. The group had been in a years-long civil war with the internationally recognised Saudi-backed Yemeni government that led to an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the region. Also read | Red Sea ship attacks: Inside disrupted shipping route through West Asia's 'gate of tears' A little more than a month later in February 2021, the US State Department under President Joe Biden, citing the need to facilitate aid delivery into Yemen, removed the SDGT designation and also de-listed Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) status for the Houthis. Between February 2021 and April 2022, the Houthis continued to expand their territorial hold in Yemen amid failed efforts by the UN and US envoys to engineer a truce. A Satellite view of West Asia | GoogleEarth The de-listing of Houthis as "terrorists" in February 2021 occurred owing to the pressure the Biden administration faced as Houthis disallowed any aid from reaching Yemen's people, said Kabir Taneja, Fellow, Strategic Studies Programme at Observer Research Foundation. "This also helped Saudis, who are in open negotiations with the Houthis after being at war with them since 2015," Taneja added. In April 2022, the internationally-recognised Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi ceded power to a presidential council, and a truce was agreed upon. This truce, although fragile, continues to hold to date amid signs of its sustenance with successful prisoner exchange efforts between the two warring sides. Israel-Hamas war: Why Houthis have been re-listed as 'terrorists' by the US? On January 17, 2024, the White House designated Houthis as a 'Specially Designated Global Terrorist' (SDGT) entity. Hours before the above development, Taneja described such occurrence as a "direct consequence of the campaign of Houthis against international shipping in the Red Sea". The attack by Houthis on merchant shipping vessels on the Red Sea shipping route — the passage to 12 per cent of the world's ship-borne trade — has increased shipping costs by up to 60 per cent for the goods destined for Europe from Asia, according to Container xChange, an online container logistics platform for container trading and container leasing. Implications for the region The truce brokered in April 2022 between warring parties in the Yemeni civil war was engineered following years of Saudi-led negotiations. "The Houthis have been involved in substantive negotiations with Saudi Arabia, a US ally, over a Saudi withdrawal from Yemen, which the US supports. That wouldn't be a good time to make such a designation," said Joost R. Hiltermann, Program Director, Middle East and North Africa at International Crisis Group. "From our perspective, such designations are counter-productive, also because there is no commonly accepted definition of 'terrorist organisation', a highly politicised term," Hiltermann added. Houthis have grown into the most powerful war machine in Yemen whose threat to the shipping lanes in the Red Sea has forced the United States to form a multinational naval task force to counter them. "The Biden administration had no intention of making such a designation lightly against any group, without a provocation," Hiltermann said. How powerful are Houthis: Challenges and Asymmetry Weeks before the October 7 attack by Hamas on southern Israel that pushed the region to the worst state of war in decades, the Houthis on September 21 held a parade in Yemeni capital Sana'a. The parade showed weapon systems in the hands of an irregular army. Thread: 1/ Geolocation of the Houthis' SEP 21, 2023 military parade in As Sabain, Sanaa, #Yemen. Coords: 15.324805, 44.205419 This thread will ID arms & vehicles at the event & discuss notable trends. pic.twitter.com/j0luwfYWFt — Joshua Koontz (@JoshuaKoontz__) September 21, 2023 × There were Mi-8 transportation helicopters as well as the Malah boats, often deployed to lay mines in the sea. Houthis are now attacking these shipping lanes with the naval mines and airpower they have acquired over the years. Some other weapons systems the Houthis have include the Fledermaus Radar, surface-to-air missiles, improvised armour, and T-55 tanks. The Houthis also have Tochka ballistic missiles and F-5 supersonic light fighter aircraft. There also are Iranian-origin Hatem/Khaybar Shekan and Badr-4 ballistic missiles. They also have passive infrared tracking systems, drones, loitering munitions, and Iran-origin Shahab 3/Ghadr missiles, besides an unspecified but large number of Raqeeb UAVs, which can have a range of up to 1,400 km. Such vast expansion of Houthis' capacities, as shown by their arsenal, characterises Iran's support for the movement. Tehran looks at the Houthis, a revivalist Shia movement, as a wider part of its resistance against the US and Israel. "Houthis have benefited from structural and institutional support from Iran. This has allowed them to gain capacities ranging from ballistic and anti-ship missiles to underwater weapons and drones. Without Iranian help, all this would not be possible," Taneja said. Note: The story has been updated to reflect the asymmetric security challenge posed by Houthis in West Asia.

Explained : How Yemen's Houthi rebels became America's 'terrorists' once again

Yemen's Houthis target U.S. ship in the Gulf of Aden. Watch this video to know more.

Houthi rebels target US vessel, Indian Navy warship moves to assist attacked vessel

<p>The US has claimed it destroyed four anti-ship ballistic missiles that the Houthi terrorists from Yemen fired on Tuesday (Jan 16). The Houthis reportedly struck a Maltese-flagged bulk carrier during the skirmish, but it remained seaworthy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>US Central Command (CENTCOM) released an update on the counter-operation, saying the shipping lane&nbsp;in the Red Sea remains a target for the Houthis.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"On Jan. 16 at approximately 1:45 pm (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi militants launched an anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into international shipping lanes in the Southern Red Sea," read the statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The latest strike comes after Houthis struck a US-owned container ship with a similar missile on Monday (Jan 15).&nbsp;The ship was identified by CENTCOM as the M/V Gibraltar Eagle.</p>

<p>Houthis released a statement after the attack, saying they consider all US and its allies shipping containers in the region as hostile.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The Yemeni armed forces consider all American and British ships and warships participating in the aggression against our country as hostile targets within the target bank of our forces,” read&nbsp;a Houthi statement posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) by spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Houthis upped the ante against the US and its allies this Sunday (Jan 14) by first launching an anti-ship cruise missile targeting warship USS Laboon.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to experts, the&nbsp;rather ambitious attack by Yemen, if successful, could have signalled the start of a full-blown regional war. USA's involvement has already made the region ripe for the spillover effect.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/yemens-houthis-fired-anti-ship-missile-after-attack-in-yemen-us-679533"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Yemen's Houthis fired anti-ship missile after attack in Yemen: US</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>Why the attack?</strong></h2>

<p>The United States and British forces on Friday (Jan 12) launched strikes in retaliation to the attacks by Houthi terrorists on Red Sea shipping vessels which are linked to Israel.</p>

<p>Australia also provided personnel support to the strikes, which&nbsp;involved various Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ship-hit-by-missile-off-yemen-uk-maritime-security-agency-680257"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;US-owned cargo ship hit by missile off the coast of Yemen in latest attack</strong></a></p>

<p>After launching strikes against Houthis, the United States and its allies said that stabilising crucial Red Sea shipping lanes remains their primary goal.</p>

<p>Houthis&nbsp;claim that their attacks are aimed at showing solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing war between Israel and the militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.</p>

<p>Meanwhile,&nbsp;US President Joe Biden maintains that the strikes are&nbsp;a "direct response" to "unprecedented" attacks launched by the Houthis.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The US has claimed it destroyed four anti-ship ballistic missiles that the Houthi terrorists from Yemen fired on Tuesday (Jan 16). The Houthis reportedly struck a Maltese-flagged bulk carrier during the skirmish, but it remained seaworthy.

The US has claimed it destroyed four anti-ship ballistic missiles that the Houthi terrorists from Yemen fired on Tuesday (Jan 16). The Houthis reportedly struck a Maltese-flagged bulk carrier during the skirmish, but it remained seaworthy. US Central Command (CENTCOM) released an update on the counter-operation, saying the shipping lane in the Red Sea remains a target for the Houthis. "On Jan. 16 at approximately 1:45 pm (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi militants launched an anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into international shipping lanes in the Southern Red Sea," read the statement. The latest strike comes after Houthis struck a US-owned container ship with a similar missile on Monday (Jan 15). The ship was identified by CENTCOM as the M/V Gibraltar Eagle. Houthis released a statement after the attack, saying they consider all US and its allies shipping containers in the region as hostile. “The Yemeni armed forces consider all American and British ships and warships participating in the aggression against our country as hostile targets within the target bank of our forces,” read a Houthi statement posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) by spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam. Houthis upped the ante against the US and its allies this Sunday (Jan 14) by first launching an anti-ship cruise missile targeting warship USS Laboon. According to experts, the rather ambitious attack by Yemen, if successful, could have signalled the start of a full-blown regional war. USA's involvement has already made the region ripe for the spillover effect. Watch | Yemen's Houthis fired anti-ship missile after attack in Yemen: US Why the attack? The United States and British forces on Friday (Jan 12) launched strikes in retaliation to the attacks by Houthi terrorists on Red Sea shipping vessels which are linked to Israel. Australia also provided personnel support to the strikes, which involved various Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets. Also read | US-owned cargo ship hit by missile off the coast of Yemen in latest attack After launching strikes against Houthis, the United States and its allies said that stabilising crucial Red Sea shipping lanes remains their primary goal. Houthis claim that their attacks are aimed at showing solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing war between Israel and the militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden maintains that the strikes are a "direct response" to "unprecedented" attacks launched by the Houthis. (With inputs from agencies)

US destroys 4 Houthi anti-ship missiles, Malta-flagged bulk carrier hit

The Houthis of Yemen launched a "direct hit" on the Zografia ship with the use of naval missiles, according to Yahya Sarea, a spokesman for the group's military. One of the Greek sources stated that the Zografia had 24 crew members on board and was traveling from Vietnam to Israel when it was attacked. The ship was devoid of cargo.

Italy, France & Spain refuse role in strikes in Yemen | Europe split over mission against Houthis?

<p>Two Navy SEALs remain missing off the coast of Somalia after one fell into the water during a nighttime mission on January 11.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Latest reports suggest that they were involved in the operation that seized a small boat carrying lethal aid from Iran to the Houthi militia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As quoted by news agencies, US Central Command chief Michael Kurilla said that "an exhaustive search" is still underway to find them.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-launches-barrage-of-missile-strikes-in-iraq-and-syria-680336">Iran launches barrage of missile strikes in northern Iraq and Syria; US condemns attacks</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>The Associated Press, citing officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity, reported that the two SEALs were&nbsp;climbing aboard a vessel while on a mission in the Gulf of Aden when high waves knocked one into the sea.&nbsp;</p>

<p>To save him, the second SEAL jumped in, which is a part of Navy SEAL protocol to help a comrade in danger. Both of them disappeared.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The US military announced on Tuesday (Jan 16) that it had captured Iranian-made missile parts en route to Houthi rebels from a boat in the Arabian Sea.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This is said to be the first such operation since the start of Houthi attacks against commercial ships last year.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/missile-hits-cargo-ship-off-yemen-says-maritime-risk-company-680596">Missile hits cargo ship off Yemen, says maritime risk company</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>US Central Command said in a statement on social media X that the parts consisted of both "Iranian-made ballistic missile and cruise missiles components".</p>

<p>The statement added that the seized items included propulsion and guidance systems, warheads for Houthi medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBMs), and anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs). It also included air defence components.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The military further stated that these weapon transfers to the Houthis violate international law and a United Nations Security Council resolution.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Two hostages killed in Israeli strike, says Hamas; IDF raises concerns&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p>The statement said: "Initial analysis indicates these same weapons have been employed by the Houthis to threaten and attack innocent mariners on international merchant ships transiting in the Red Sea."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The weapons parts were seized from a dhow, a traditional masted sailing vessel, with 14 crew members whose disposition was "being determined in accordance with international law".&nbsp;</p>

<p>The United States Navy Sea, Air, and Land Teams are commonly known as Navy SEALs. They are the US Navy's primary special operations force and a component of the Naval Special Warfare Command.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Red Sea crisis&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>This comes amid the ongoing Red Sea crisis, which started when rebels launched repeated attacks on shipping. The US and British forces retaliated and on Friday, they hit scores of rebel targets across Yemen.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Attacks by and against the Houthis, part of the "axis of resistance" of Iran-aligned groups, have raised concerns about violence spreading in the region from the Gaza war.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em><strong>Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.&nbsp;</strong></em></p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em>&nbsp;</p>


Two Navy SEALs remain missing off the coast of Somalia after one fell into the water during a nighttime mission on January 11. Latest reports suggest that they were involved in the operation that seized a small boat carrying lethal aid from Iran to the Houthi militia.

Two Navy SEALs remain missing off the coast of Somalia after one fell into the water during a nighttime mission on January 11. Latest reports suggest that they were involved in the operation that seized a small boat carrying lethal aid from Iran to the Houthi militia. As quoted by news agencies, US Central Command chief Michael Kurilla said that "an exhaustive search" is still underway to find them. Also read: Iran launches barrage of missile strikes in northern Iraq and Syria; US condemns attacks The Associated Press, citing officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity, reported that the two SEALs were climbing aboard a vessel while on a mission in the Gulf of Aden when high waves knocked one into the sea. To save him, the second SEAL jumped in, which is a part of Navy SEAL protocol to help a comrade in danger. Both of them disappeared. The US military announced on Tuesday (Jan 16) that it had captured Iranian-made missile parts en route to Houthi rebels from a boat in the Arabian Sea. This is said to be the first such operation since the start of Houthi attacks against commercial ships last year. Also read: Missile hits cargo ship off Yemen, says maritime risk company US Central Command said in a statement on social media X that the parts consisted of both "Iranian-made ballistic missile and cruise missiles components". The statement added that the seized items included propulsion and guidance systems, warheads for Houthi medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBMs), and anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs). It also included air defence components. The military further stated that these weapon transfers to the Houthis violate international law and a United Nations Security Council resolution. Watch: Two hostages killed in Israeli strike, says Hamas; IDF raises concerns × The statement said: "Initial analysis indicates these same weapons have been employed by the Houthis to threaten and attack innocent mariners on international merchant ships transiting in the Red Sea." The weapons parts were seized from a dhow, a traditional masted sailing vessel, with 14 crew members whose disposition was "being determined in accordance with international law". The United States Navy Sea, Air, and Land Teams are commonly known as Navy SEALs. They are the US Navy's primary special operations force and a component of the Naval Special Warfare Command. Red Sea crisis This comes amid the ongoing Red Sea crisis, which started when rebels launched repeated attacks on shipping. The US and British forces retaliated and on Friday, they hit scores of rebel targets across Yemen. Attacks by and against the Houthis, part of the "axis of resistance" of Iran-aligned groups, have raised concerns about violence spreading in the region from the Gaza war. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

Two missing US Navy SEALs were on mission to stop Iranian weapons bound for Houthi rebels: US

<p>A missile has hit a cargo ship off Yemen, said maritime risk management company Ambrey on Tuesday (January 16). The report has followed a series of attacks Yemen's Houthi rebels carried out against shipping in vital trade routes in the Red Sea.</p>

<p>"A Malta-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier was reportedly targeted and impacted with a missile while transiting the southern Red Sea northbound," Ambrey said in an alert.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The company added that the ship had visited Israel since the outbreak of Israel war. Ambrey said that the ship was headed to the Suez Canal and changed course to head to a port after it was attacked.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Iran-backed Houthi rebels continue to assault on commercial vessels</strong></p>

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<p>AFP cited a source within Greek maritime affairs ministry to say that the ship was named Zografia. The 24-crew vessel was sailing from Vietnam to Israel.</p>

<p>The Zografia "sustained limited damage... but remains in a navigable condition, and is continuing its journey," the source said as quoted by AFP.</p>

<p>Houthi rebels did not immediately release any official statement. The rebels have been attacking shipping in the Red Sea for quite a while now. The Houthi rebels claim that the attacks are carried out to show solidarity with people in the Gaza Strip.</p>

<p>The rebels have attacked US-owned ships too. On Sunday, the US forces shot down a cruise missile launched by Houthi rebel. The missile was targetting a US destroyer. On Monday a US-owned cargo ship got hit by rebel missile in Gulf of Oman.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ship-hit-by-missile-off-yemen-uk-maritime-security-agency-680257">US-owned cargo ship hit by missile off the coast of Yemen in latest attack</a></strong></p>

<p>The ongoing Israel war is threatening to revive regional enmities and analysts are expressing fears that the war may spark a wider conflict in the region.</p>

<p>On Friday last week, the United States, along with the UK, launched strikes on many Houthi sites in parts of Yemen held by the rebels. These strikes were carried out as retaliation to previous Houthi attacks carried out in the Red Sea.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-launches-barrage-of-missile-strikes-in-iraq-and-syria-680336">Iran launches barrage of missile strikes in northern Iraq and Syria; US condemns attacks</a></strong></p>

<p>On Tuesday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a British navy-run maritime security agency also reported an 'incident' in northwest of Saleef in Yemen. It was not immediately clear whether UKMTO was reporting the same attack previously mentioned by Ambrey.</p>

<p><strong>US says seized Iranian missile parts enroute to Houthis</strong></p>

<p>The US military said on Tuesday that it seized Iranian-made missile parts which were being sent to Houthi rebels. The US said that its military seized a boat in the Arabian Sea that was carrying these missile parts.</p>

<p>US Central Command said on X that the seized material included both ""Iranian-made ballistic missile and cruise missiles components". The command added that to US Navy SEALS involved with the missed were reported lost at sea and "an exhaustive search" was underway.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A missile has hit a cargo ship off Yemen, said maritime risk management company Ambrey on Tuesday (January 16). The report has followed a series of attacks Yemen's Houthi rebels carried out against shipping in vital trade routes in the Red Sea.

A missile has hit a cargo ship off Yemen, said maritime risk management company Ambrey on Tuesday (January 16). The report has followed a series of attacks Yemen's Houthi rebels carried out against shipping in vital trade routes in the Red Sea. "A Malta-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier was reportedly targeted and impacted with a missile while transiting the southern Red Sea northbound," Ambrey said in an alert. The company added that the ship had visited Israel since the outbreak of Israel war. Ambrey said that the ship was headed to the Suez Canal and changed course to head to a port after it was attacked. Watch | Iran-backed Houthi rebels continue to assault on commercial vessels × AFP cited a source within Greek maritime affairs ministry to say that the ship was named Zografia. The 24-crew vessel was sailing from Vietnam to Israel. The Zografia "sustained limited damage... but remains in a navigable condition, and is continuing its journey," the source said as quoted by AFP. Houthi rebels did not immediately release any official statement. The rebels have been attacking shipping in the Red Sea for quite a while now. The Houthi rebels claim that the attacks are carried out to show solidarity with people in the Gaza Strip. The rebels have attacked US-owned ships too. On Sunday, the US forces shot down a cruise missile launched by Houthi rebel. The missile was targetting a US destroyer. On Monday a US-owned cargo ship got hit by rebel missile in Gulf of Oman. Also Read | US-owned cargo ship hit by missile off the coast of Yemen in latest attack The ongoing Israel war is threatening to revive regional enmities and analysts are expressing fears that the war may spark a wider conflict in the region. On Friday last week, the United States, along with the UK, launched strikes on many Houthi sites in parts of Yemen held by the rebels. These strikes were carried out as retaliation to previous Houthi attacks carried out in the Red Sea. Also Read | Iran launches barrage of missile strikes in northern Iraq and Syria; US condemns attacks On Tuesday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a British navy-run maritime security agency also reported an 'incident' in northwest of Saleef in Yemen. It was not immediately clear whether UKMTO was reporting the same attack previously mentioned by Ambrey. US says seized Iranian missile parts enroute to Houthis The US military said on Tuesday that it seized Iranian-made missile parts which were being sent to Houthi rebels. The US said that its military seized a boat in the Arabian Sea that was carrying these missile parts. US Central Command said on X that the seized material included both ""Iranian-made ballistic missile and cruise missiles components". The command added that to US Navy SEALS involved with the missed were reported lost at sea and "an exhaustive search" was underway. (With inputs from agencies)

Missile hits cargo ship off Yemen, says maritime risk company

<p>A United States-owned ship was struck by a missile off the coast of Yemen on Monday (Jan 15), a UK security agency and maritime risk company said.</p>

<p>This comes a day after Houthi rebels launched a cruise missile targeting a US destroyer.</p>

<p>The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations security agency on its website reported that a "vessel hit from above by a missile" in the Gulf of Aden without providing further details.</p>

<p>UK maritime risk company Ambrey said that a fire broke out on board the Marshall Islands-flagged, US-owned bulk carrier, further informing that no one was hurt in the incident and that the ship was still seaworthy.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">UKMTO WARNING 009/JAN/2024 - UPDATE 001<br />
<br />
ATTACK<br />
<br />
Warnings - 2024 (<a href="https://t.co/5An1YH0JyE">https://t.co/5An1YH0JyE</a>)<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MaritimeSecurity?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MaritimeSecurity</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MarSec?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MarSec</a> <a href="https://t.co/U3Y3S3qx9V">pic.twitter.com/U3Y3S3qx9V</a></p>
— United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) (@UK_MTO) <a href="https://twitter.com/UK_MTO/status/1746895176054845472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The company "assessed the attack to have targeted US interests in response to US military strikes on Houthi military positions in Yemen", Ambrey said, adding that the vessel was "assessed to not be Israel-affiliated".</p>

<p>"The impact reportedly caused a fire in a hold. The bulker reportedly remained seaworthy, and no injuries were reported," it said.</p>

<p>The ship was identified by US Central Command as the M/V Gibraltar Eagle.</p>

<p>"On Jan. 15 at approximately 4 p.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired an anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and struck the M/V Gibraltar Eagle, a Marshall Islands-flagged, U.S.-owned and operated container ship. The ship has reported no injuries or significant damage and is continuing its journey," read a post by CENTCOM on X.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">On Jan. 15 at approximately 4 p.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired an anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and struck the M/V Gibraltar Eagle, a Marshall Islands-flagged, U.S.-owned and operated container ship. The ship has… <a href="https://t.co/gixEMaUiVT">pic.twitter.com/gixEMaUiVT</a></p>
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) <a href="https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/1746913313932685597?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/philippines-to-develop-islands-in-disputed-south-china-sea-that-it-considers-part-of-territory-680243">Philippines to develop islands in disputed South China Sea for troops</a></p>

<h2><strong>Yemen rebels claim attack on US-owned ship</strong></h2>

<p>Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the missile strike that hit the US-owned ship in the Gulf of Aden on Monday (Jan 15).</p>

<p>The Houthi's military spokesman Yahya Saree released a statement claiming responsibility for the attack claiming that the Iran-backed group "carried out a military operation targeting an American ship", adding that "a certain number of appropriate naval missiles" were used.</p>

<h2><strong>US says it shot down anti-ship cruise missile from Houthi area of Yemen</strong></h2>

<p>A US fighter aircraft shot down an anti-ship cruise missile fired from Iranian-backed Houthi rebel areas of Yemen towards the USS Laboon, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Sunday (Jan 14).&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;US &amp; Britain unleash typhoons, Tomahawks &amp; nuclear submarine on Houthis in Yemen</strong></p>

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<p>"On Jan. 14 at approximately 4:45 p.m. (Sanaa time), an anti-ship cruise missile was fired from Iranian-backed Houthi militant areas of Yemen toward USS Laboon (DDG 58), which was operating in the Southern Red Sea," read the statement by CENTCOM posted on X.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">On Jan. 14 at approximately 4:45 p.m. (Sanaa time), an anti-ship cruise missile was fired from Iranian-backed Houthi militant areas of Yemen toward USS Laboon (DDG 58), which was operating in the Southern Red Sea. The missile was shot down in vicinity of the coast of Hudaydah by… <a href="https://t.co/jftZHQhA2e">pic.twitter.com/jftZHQhA2e</a></p>
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) <a href="https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/1746705110401695779?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>"The missile was shot down in the vicinity of the coast of Hudaydah by US fighter aircraft," it added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>US and British forces on Friday (Jan 12) launched strikes on rebel targets across Yemen raising concerns that Israel's war with the Palestinian militant group Hamas could overtake the region.</p>

<h2><strong>Strikes against Houthis successful, says UK PM</strong></h2>

<p>UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday said that as per his government's assessment, all the planned targets were hit in the coalition strikes launched against Iran-backed Yemen's Houthi rebels.</p>

<p>He also said that there were no civilian casualties reported in the strikes, which took place overnight between Thursday and Friday.</p>

<p>"I can tell the House (of Commons) today that our initial assessment is that all 13 planned targets were destroyed," Sunak said during an address to parliament, describing the strikes as "successful".</p>

<p>"We have seen no evidence thus far of civilian causalities, which we took great care to avoid," he added.</p>

<h2><strong>'Security of all shipping harmed after US strikes on Yemen', says Hezbollah</strong></h2>

<p>The Hezbollah group on Sunday said that the United States was mistaken if it assumed that the Houthis would cease confronting Israel in the Red Sea, further stating that the US actions there would jeopardize the safety of all marine navigation.</p>

<p>“If (US President) Biden and those with him think the Yemenis will stop supporting Gaza in the Red Sea, they are wrong and ignorant. They don’t know Yemen, its people its leadership and its history. They don’t know anything,” Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah</p>

<p>Dubbing the coalition strikes by the US and Britain as "an act of stupidity", Nasrallah said the Houthis would continue targeting ships belonging to Israel and going to its ports.</p>

<p>"The more dangerous thing is what the Americans did in the Red Sea will harm the security of all maritime navigation, even the ships that are not going to Palestine, even the ships which are not Israeli, even the ships that have nothing to do with the matter because the sea has become a theatre of fighting, missiles, drones and warships," he said.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A United States-owned ship was struck by a missile off the coast of Yemen on Monday (Jan 15), a UK security agency and maritime risk company said. This comes a day after Houthi rebels launched a cruise missile targeting a US destroyer.

A United States-owned ship was struck by a missile off the coast of Yemen on Monday (Jan 15), a UK security agency and maritime risk company said. This comes a day after Houthi rebels launched a cruise missile targeting a US destroyer. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations security agency on its website reported that a "vessel hit from above by a missile" in the Gulf of Aden without providing further details. UK maritime risk company Ambrey said that a fire broke out on board the Marshall Islands-flagged, US-owned bulk carrier, further informing that no one was hurt in the incident and that the ship was still seaworthy. UKMTO WARNING 009/JAN/2024 - UPDATE 001 ATTACK Warnings - 2024 (https://t.co/5An1YH0JyE)#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/U3Y3S3qx9V — United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) (@UK_MTO) January 15, 2024 × The company "assessed the attack to have targeted US interests in response to US military strikes on Houthi military positions in Yemen", Ambrey said, adding that the vessel was "assessed to not be Israel-affiliated". "The impact reportedly caused a fire in a hold. The bulker reportedly remained seaworthy, and no injuries were reported," it said. The ship was identified by US Central Command as the M/V Gibraltar Eagle. "On Jan. 15 at approximately 4 p.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired an anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and struck the M/V Gibraltar Eagle, a Marshall Islands-flagged, U.S.-owned and operated container ship. The ship has reported no injuries or significant damage and is continuing its journey," read a post by CENTCOM on X. On Jan. 15 at approximately 4 p.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired an anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and struck the M/V Gibraltar Eagle, a Marshall Islands-flagged, U.S.-owned and operated container ship. The ship has… pic.twitter.com/gixEMaUiVT — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 15, 2024 × Also read: Philippines to develop islands in disputed South China Sea for troops Yemen rebels claim attack on US-owned ship Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the missile strike that hit the US-owned ship in the Gulf of Aden on Monday (Jan 15). The Houthi's military spokesman Yahya Saree released a statement claiming responsibility for the attack claiming that the Iran-backed group "carried out a military operation targeting an American ship", adding that "a certain number of appropriate naval missiles" were used. US says it shot down anti-ship cruise missile from Houthi area of Yemen A US fighter aircraft shot down an anti-ship cruise missile fired from Iranian-backed Houthi rebel areas of Yemen towards the USS Laboon, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Sunday (Jan 14). WATCH | US & Britain unleash typhoons, Tomahawks & nuclear submarine on Houthis in Yemen × "On Jan. 14 at approximately 4:45 p.m. (Sanaa time), an anti-ship cruise missile was fired from Iranian-backed Houthi militant areas of Yemen toward USS Laboon (DDG 58), which was operating in the Southern Red Sea," read the statement by CENTCOM posted on X. On Jan. 14 at approximately 4:45 p.m. (Sanaa time), an anti-ship cruise missile was fired from Iranian-backed Houthi militant areas of Yemen toward USS Laboon (DDG 58), which was operating in the Southern Red Sea. The missile was shot down in vicinity of the coast of Hudaydah by… pic.twitter.com/jftZHQhA2e — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 15, 2024 × "The missile was shot down in the vicinity of the coast of Hudaydah by US fighter aircraft," it added. US and British forces on Friday (Jan 12) launched strikes on rebel targets across Yemen raising concerns that Israel's war with the Palestinian militant group Hamas could overtake the region. Strikes against Houthis successful, says UK PM UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday said that as per his government's assessment, all the planned targets were hit in the coalition strikes launched against Iran-backed Yemen's Houthi rebels. He also said that there were no civilian casualties reported in the strikes, which took place overnight between Thursday and Friday. "I can tell the House (of Commons) today that our initial assessment is that all 13 planned targets were destroyed," Sunak said during an address to parliament, describing the strikes as "successful". "We have seen no evidence thus far of civilian causalities, which we took great care to avoid," he added. 'Security of all shipping harmed after US strikes on Yemen', says Hezbollah The Hezbollah group on Sunday said that the United States was mistaken if it assumed that the Houthis would cease confronting Israel in the Red Sea, further stating that the US actions there would jeopardize the safety of all marine navigation. “If (US President) Biden and those with him think the Yemenis will stop supporting Gaza in the Red Sea, they are wrong and ignorant. They don’t know Yemen, its people its leadership and its history. They don’t know anything,” Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah Dubbing the coalition strikes by the US and Britain as "an act of stupidity", Nasrallah said the Houthis would continue targeting ships belonging to Israel and going to its ports. "The more dangerous thing is what the Americans did in the Red Sea will harm the security of all maritime navigation, even the ships that are not going to Palestine, even the ships which are not Israeli, even the ships that have nothing to do with the matter because the sea has become a theatre of fighting, missiles, drones and warships," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

US-owned cargo ship hit by missile off the coast of Yemen in latest attack

Fears of a regional war linger, with more countries now being involved in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. US has carried out additional strikes on Houthi-linked targets in Yemen. Earlier on Friday, US and British forces targeted nearly 30 sites with more than 150 munitions in Yemen in their first round of strikes. Houthis send warning following strikes.

Israel-Hamas war: Houthis promise 'strong & effective' response to US strikes

<p>A new airstrike hit the Yemeni Red Sea port city of Hodeida on Saturday (Jan 13), following two nights of attacks on the Iran-backed Houthi rebels. This comes amid heightened tensions in the region following recent strikes by US and British forces on Houthi military sites.</p>

<h2><strong>Targeted strike on Houthi rocket launch site</strong></h2>

<p>A military source allied with the rebels, as reported by AFP,&nbsp;said&nbsp;that the strike targeted the site from which a Houthi rocket was launched on the outskirts of Hodeida.</p>

<p>The origin of the strike, whether from the sea or the air, remained unclear.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ongoing conflict in the region has escalated with increased violence involving Iran-aligned groups in Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria. The recent events, triggered by the war between the Palestinian group Hamas and Israel, have drawn in various actors, adding to the complexity of the situation.</p>

<p>The Houthi rebels, expressing solidarity with Gaza, have intensified their missile and drone attacks on what they claim to be Israeli-linked shipping routes in the Red Sea.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Yemen's Houthis fired anti-ship missile after strikes: US</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>Strategic importance of Red Sea route</strong></h2>

<p>The Red Sea international trade route, particularly the Bab al-Mandeb Strait between southwest Yemen and Djibouti, is of significant global importance, facilitating around 12 per cent of global trade. However, recent Houthi attacks on shipping in the region have disrupted trade flows, contributing to concerns about rising global inflation amid existing supply chain strains.</p>

<p>Despite the strikes by US and British forces, which aimed to "de-escalate tensions," the Houthi rebels have vowed to continue their attacks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As the situation unfolds, UN chief Antonio Guterres's special envoy for Yemen has called on all involved parties to avoid actions jeopardising maritime trade and fueling regional tensions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The strikes and heightened tensions in the region have broader implications for global economic and security dynamics. Oil prices experienced fluctuations, rising initially due to fears of escalation before stabilising.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/not-red-sea-but-a-sea-of-blood-erdogan-lashes-out-at-us-uk-air-strikes-in-yemen-679562">Also read |&nbsp;Turning Red Sea into 'sea of blood': Erdogan lashes out at US, UK air strikes in Yemen</a></p>

<p>Shipping companies, including Denmark's Torm, have halted transit through the Red Sea, reflecting concerns about the security risks in the strategic waterway. Regional leaders, including Saudi Arabia, have called for self-restraint and avoiding further escalation.</p>

<p>In response to the airstrikes, hundreds of thousands of people, some armed with Kalashnikov assault rifles, gathered in Yemen's capital Sanaa to protest. Anti-American and anti-Israeli sentiments were voiced during the demonstration, reflecting the complex political landscape in the region.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A new airstrike hit the Yemeni Red Sea port city of Hodeida on Saturday (Jan 13), following two nights of attacks on the Iran-backed Houthi rebels. This comes amid heightened tensions in the region following recent strikes by US and British forces on Houthi military sites.

A new airstrike hit the Yemeni Red Sea port city of Hodeida on Saturday (Jan 13), following two nights of attacks on the Iran-backed Houthi rebels. This comes amid heightened tensions in the region following recent strikes by US and British forces on Houthi military sites. Targeted strike on Houthi rocket launch site A military source allied with the rebels, as reported by AFP, said that the strike targeted the site from which a Houthi rocket was launched on the outskirts of Hodeida. The origin of the strike, whether from the sea or the air, remained unclear. The ongoing conflict in the region has escalated with increased violence involving Iran-aligned groups in Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria. The recent events, triggered by the war between the Palestinian group Hamas and Israel, have drawn in various actors, adding to the complexity of the situation. The Houthi rebels, expressing solidarity with Gaza, have intensified their missile and drone attacks on what they claim to be Israeli-linked shipping routes in the Red Sea. Also watch | Yemen's Houthis fired anti-ship missile after strikes: US Strategic importance of Red Sea route The Red Sea international trade route, particularly the Bab al-Mandeb Strait between southwest Yemen and Djibouti, is of significant global importance, facilitating around 12 per cent of global trade. However, recent Houthi attacks on shipping in the region have disrupted trade flows, contributing to concerns about rising global inflation amid existing supply chain strains. Despite the strikes by US and British forces, which aimed to "de-escalate tensions," the Houthi rebels have vowed to continue their attacks. As the situation unfolds, UN chief Antonio Guterres's special envoy for Yemen has called on all involved parties to avoid actions jeopardising maritime trade and fueling regional tensions. The strikes and heightened tensions in the region have broader implications for global economic and security dynamics. Oil prices experienced fluctuations, rising initially due to fears of escalation before stabilising. Also read | Turning Red Sea into 'sea of blood': Erdogan lashes out at US, UK air strikes in Yemen Shipping companies, including Denmark's Torm, have halted transit through the Red Sea, reflecting concerns about the security risks in the strategic waterway. Regional leaders, including Saudi Arabia, have called for self-restraint and avoiding further escalation. In response to the airstrikes, hundreds of thousands of people, some armed with Kalashnikov assault rifles, gathered in Yemen's capital Sanaa to protest. Anti-American and anti-Israeli sentiments were voiced during the demonstration, reflecting the complex political landscape in the region. (With inputs from agencies)

Fresh airstrikes target Yemen’s Houthis amid escalating Red Sea tensions

The Red Sea crisis has unleashed a cascade of disruptions in global shipping. Container rates have skyrocketed for routes from India to the US and doubled or even tripled for certain European regions. Now, oil prices have surged as the US and its allies launched airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Oil prices surge: Red sea crisis hits global businesses

Fears of a regional war linger, with more countries now being involved in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. US has carried out additional strikes on Houthi-linked targets in Yemen. Earlier on Friday, US and British forces targeted nearly 30 sites with more than 150 munitions in Yemen in their first round of strikes.

US carries out more strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen

In pics | US-UK strikes against Houthis spark massive protests across Yemen

Yemen's Houthis fired anti-ship missile after attack in Yemen: US

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