Houthis fired cruise missile targeting America
Houthi Rebels in Red Sea: Britain and America are openly fighting the Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. Both the countries together have given a befitting reply to the actions of Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. These Houthi rebels have been targeting international cargo ships sailing in the Red Sea since November. For this reason, America and Britain have jointly launched repeated attacks on the bases of these Houthi rebels in Yemen. But Yemen’s Houthis have also retaliated against targets in both countries. Frustrated Houthis have fired anti-ship cruise missiles targeting American bases.
US Central Command’s statement on attacks by Houthi rebels US Central Command (CENTCOM) issued a statement on Sunday saying that American fighter aircraft have shot down an anti-ship cruise missile fired by the Houthis. The missile was fired towards the USS Laboon by Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. There is no report of anyone being injured in these attacks.
America and Britain recently carried out rapid air strikes
Earlier, after carrying out the first air strike on Houthi positions, the US Air Force had said that it had attacked more than 60 targets in 16 locations used by Houthi in Yemen. America and Britain have fired missiles at Yemen’s capital Sanaa and Al-Hudaydah. Both these cities are considered strongholds of Houthis in the Red Sea port area. Houthi officials have warned Britain and the United States in retaliation. Houthi rebels have also warned America and Britain that they ‘will have to pay a heavy price’.
Why are Houthi rebels targeting ships in the Red Sea?
When Israel began bombing Gaza on 7 October 2023 in response to a Hamas attack, the Houthis declared their support for Hamas. The Houthi rebels, in support of Hamas, had said that they would target ships bound for Israel and that is what they are doing. However, the ships which are not going to Israel are also being attacked by Houthi rebels. The number of attacks carried out by the Houthis in the Red Sea increased by 500 percent between November and December.
Many shipping companies stopped operating in the Red Sea
Attacks by Houthi rebels have increased so much in recent times that many major shipping companies have stopped operating ships in the region. Large parts of Yemen are controlled by Houthi rebels. Many ships have suspended operations in Africa or taken longer routes instead through the Red Sea and Arabian Sea.
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