UK launches strikes against Houthis in Yemen, in first joint US operation under Trump

On Tuesday, Britain’s military, in collaboration with US forces, conducted airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen, as reported by its defense ministry. This marks the first public confirmation of a joint operation since the Trump administration intensified the US campaign against the militant faction.

The attacks focused on “a group of structures” located south of the capital Sanaa that the Houthis utilize for drone production, which the organization employs to assault vessels at sea, stated Britain’s Ministry of Defence in a statement issued on Wednesday.

The Iran-supported Houthis initiated a military offensive in support of Palestinians when Israel engaged in conflict in Gaza in October 2023. They have consistently assaulted US Navy ships and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden—two vital passageways for global shipping routes—and launched missiles at Israel.

In reply, the US has attempted to hinder the Houthis’ capabilities by targeting their main weapons, as well as eliminating maritime and underwater drones. The UK has previously engaged in joint operations with the US against the Houthis, including several missions in 2024.