2024 missile strikes against Yemen | |||||
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Part of Operation Poseidon Archer during the Red Sea Crisis | |||||
![]() Airstrikes throughout Houthi territory | |||||
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Belligerents | |||||
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Commanders and leaders | |||||
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Strength | |||||
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Casualties and losses | |||||
None |
60+ targets destroyed (US estimate) [15] |
On the morning of 12 January 2024, the United States and United Kingdom attacked the Houthis in Yemen.[1][16] They did this because of Ansar Allah (Houthi) attacks on international trade ships that are to Israel since the 19th of November 2023 as well as attacks on American navy and British navy ships, which Houthis say are because of the Israeli war on Gaza.[17] The UK Cabinet came together and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak allowed the strikes to happen.[18]
The strikes began about 2:30am Yemen time (11:30pm UTC).[19] American fighter jets carrying precision-guided bombs were deployed from bases in the region and from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier. Surface ships and the USS Florida submarine launched Tomahawk cruise missiles. The BBC reported four Royal Air Force Typhoon jets deployed from the RAF Akrotiri airbase in Cyprus participated in the strike. The U.S. Air Forces Central announced that U.S. and coalition forces had used over 100 munitions to strike more than 60 targets at 16 locations.[20][21][22]
The U.K. Defence Ministry announced that it had targeted two sites. The first site, located at Bani in northwestern Yemen, was used to launch reconnaissance and attack drones. The second site was the Abbs airfield, which, according to the MoD, had been utilized for launching both cruise missiles and drones over the Red Sea.[23]
Explosions were reported in Sanaa, Hodeidah and Dhamar. The targets included logistics centres, air defense systems and weapons storage sites. According to a Houthi-run news channel, Hodeida International Airport, Taiz International Airport, the al-Dailami Air Base north of Sanaa, an airport near Hajjah and a camp east of Saada were hit.[1]