The British Foreign Minister, David Cameron, claims responsibility for the US and UK operation in Yemen:
The UK and US have carried out targeted strikes on Houthi military targets in Yemen.
The safety of UK vessels and the freedom of navigation across the Red Sea is paramount and that is why we are taking action.
As the UNSC has made clear, the Houthis must halt attacks in…
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) January 12, 2024
“The UK and US have carried out targeted attacks against military targets Houthis in Yemen. The safety of UK shipping and freedom of navigation through the Red Sea is paramount and that is why we are taking action. As the United Nations Security Council has made clear, the Houthis they must stop the attacks in the Red Sea.”
Four @RoyalAirForce Typhoons have conducted precision strikes on two Houthi military targets alongside US forces.
The threat to innocent lives and global trade has become so great that this action was not only necessary, it was our duty to protect vessels & freedom of navigation pic.twitter.com/tbN7ncJYpF
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) January 12, 2024
Here is the press release from the UK government, via the Foreign Office.
Four RAF Typhoon FGR4s, supported by a Voyager aerial refueling tanker, then used Paveway IV guided bombs to conduct precision strikes on two of these Houthi facilities. One was a site in Bani, northwestern Yemen, used to launch reconnaissance and attack drones. Numerous buildings involved in drone operations were targeted by our aircraft.
On Thursday evening, @RoyalAirForce Typhoons successfully conducted precision strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen.
This action was taken jointly with the US in response to repeated Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea.
Full statement ➡️ https://t.co/m2SODThJoH pic.twitter.com/pVjNeo57qU
— Ministry of Defense 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) January 12, 2024
The other place our plane hit was Abbs Airport. Intelligence showed that it was used to launch both cruise missiles and drones over the Red Sea. Several key targets at the airport were identified and pursued by our aircraft.
In planning the attacks, particular attention was paid to minimizing risks to civilians, risks further mitigated by the decision to conduct the attacks at night. Detailed results of the attacks are being assessed, but early indications are that the Houthis’ ability to threaten merchant shipping has taken a serious hit, and our commitment to protecting shipping lanes, through which approximately 15% passes of the world’s merchant ships and that it is vital to the global economy, has been amply demonstrated.”