The strikes are a sign of the growing international alarm over the threat to one of the world’s most critical waterways. Though the US has carried out strikes against Iranian proxies in Iraq and Syria since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, this marks the first known strike against the Houthis in Yemen. The Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping on Tuesday marked the final straw that culminated in Biden giving the green light for the US to move forward with Thursday’s strikes. The strikes come as Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin remains hospitalised following complications from a surgery for prostate cancer. There have been at least 27 Houthi attacks since November 19.

Source: Nigerian Tribune January 12, 2024 12:57 UTC