After weeks of relentless attacks on Red Sea ships by the rebels supported by Iran, American and British troops launched a new round of strikes against eighteen Huthi targets in Yemen on Saturday.

An official statement stated that the attacks "specifically targeted 18 Huthi targets across eight locations in Yemen," including attack drones, air defense systems, weapons storage facilities, radars, and a helicopter.

It was co-signed by New Zealand, Australia, Bahrain, Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands, and Australia, who all offered their vague "support" to the latest round of strikes, which is the fourth this month and the second since the rebels started attacking ships in the area.

"The Huthis' now more than 45 attacks on commercial and naval vessels since mid-November constitute a threat to the global economy, as well as regional security and stability, and demand an international response," the statement continued.

Al-Masirah television, which is controlled by the Huthis, reported "a series of raids on the capital Sanaa," while AFP journalists in the western Yemeni city under rebel control claimed to have heard multiple loud booms.

Following the attacks, Pentagon commander Lloyd Austin said in a separate statement, "The United States will not hesitate to take action, as needed, to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the most critical waterways in the world."

"We will continue to make clear to the Huthis that they will bear the consequences if they do not stop their illegal attacks, which harm Middle Eastern economies, cause environmental damage, and disrupt the delivery of humanitarian aid to Yemen and other countries."

In a furious social media message, Huthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree promised that the rebels will "confront the American-British escalation with more qualitative military operations against all hostile targets in the Red and Arab Seas."

"Several very long-range drones, used by the Houthis for both reconnaissance and attack missions," were the target of four Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s on Saturday, according to the UK Ministry of Defence, at a location northeast of Sanaa.

The action on Saturday comes after a number of merchant ships were damaged this week in the area, including the Rubymar, which was loaded with fertilizer and whose crew was forced to leave ship when it was hit on Sunday and started to leak water.

In addition to working with Britain on cooperative operations, the US has struck targets independently in Yemen, downing many drones and missiles in the Red Sea, and attacked Huthi sites and weapons.

Downed anti-ship missile

Earlier on Saturday, the US Navy ship, operating under US Central Command (CENTCOM), fired down an anti-ship ballistic missile that had been "launched into the Gulf of Aden from Iranian-backed Huthi controlled areas of Yemen."

CENTCOM stated on X, the previous Twitter platform, that the missile "was likely targeting MV Torm Thor, a US-Flagged, owned and operated chemical/oil tanker."

The US-flagged, owned, and operated chemical/oil tanker MV Thor was "presumably the target" of the missile, according to CENTCOM's statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Together with destroying seven anti-ship cruise missiles on land, US soldiers in the Red Sea on Friday also shot down three attack drones close to commercial ships, according to CENTCOM.

In an effort to aid Palestinians in Gaza, which has been devastated by the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Huthis claim they are attacking vessels connected to Israel.

American and British interests were deemed valid targets by the Huthis after earlier US and UK strikes.

Anger over Israel's destructive assault in Gaza, which started on October 7 in response to an extraordinary onslaught by Hamas, has spread throughout the Middle East and fueled bloodshed in Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq, and other countries backed by Iran.

End//voice7news.tv