Another US strike in Yemen, Houthis vow to hit back
Washington/ADEN, January 13
The Houthi movement threatened a “strong and effective response” after the US carried out another strike in Yemen overnight, further ratcheting up tensions as Washington vows to protect shipping from attacks by the Iran-aligned group. The strikes have added to concerns about the escalation of the conflict that has spread through the region since the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel went to war, with Iran’s allies also entering the fray from Lebanon, Syria and Iraq.
The latest strike, which the US said targeted a radar site, came a day after dozens of American and British strikes on Houthi facilities in Yemen. “This new strike will have a firm, strong and effective response,” Nasruldeen Amer, a Houthi spokesperson, said, adding there had been no injuries nor material damages.
Mohammed Abdulsalam, another Houthi spokesperson, said the strikes, including the one overnight that hit a military base in Sanaa, had no significant impact.
The Pentagon said on Friday the US-British strikes had “good effects”.
Even as Houthi leaders swore retaliation, US President Joe Biden warned on Friday that he could order more strikes if they do not stop their attacks on merchant and military vessels in one of the world’s most economically vital waterways.
The Houthis say their maritime campaign aims to support Palestinians under Israeli siege and attack in Gaza, which is ruled by the Iran-backed Hamas.
Meanwhile, Israel kept up bombardments in the Gaza Strip on Saturday as its deadly war on the enclave’s Hamas rulers approached 100 days with no end in sight.
In the southern city of Rafah, an Israeli airstrike on a house sheltering two displaced families killed 10 people, the Gaza health ministry said. The Israeli military said its forces had killed numerous militants in the southern area of Khan Younis and in the central Gaza Strip. Hamas said its fighters fired at an Israeli helicopter in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis.
The Gaza health ministry spokesman Ashraf Al-Qidra said Israeli strikes killed 135 Palestinians and wounded 312 in the past 24 hours. In total, he said 23,843 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed since October 7. Israel says it has killed at least 8,000 fighters so far. — Reuters
135 Palestinians killed
- The Gaza health ministry has said Israeli strikes killed 135 Palestinians and wounded 312 in 24 hours. With this, 23,843 Palestinians have been killed since October 7 when Israel launched strikes after Hamas attacks.
- Israel says it has killed at least 8,000 fighters so far and that it has no choice but to end Hamas rule in Gaza.
Biden’s warning
Even as Houthi leaders swore retaliation after the joint US-UK airstrikes in Yemen, US President Joe Biden warned that he could order more strikes if Houthis didn’t stop their attacks on merchant and military vessels in Red Sea.
