U.S. Official Claims Strikes Target Houthi Systems, UK Denies Involvement

A U.S. official reported on Friday, October 4, 2024, that airstrikes carried out by the United States targeted weapon systems, bases, and other equipment belonging to the Houthi group, which is internationally classified as a terrorist organization. Meanwhile, a British government official denied the UK's participation in these operations.

According to the Associated Press, the official stated that U.S. ships and aircraft conducted strikes against Houthi military assets across several provinces in Yemen.

A British government source confirmed to Reuters that the UK was not involved in the airstrikes on Houthi positions in four Yemeni provinces. "We did not participate in the airstrikes on Yemen," the source noted.

On Friday evening, U.S. aircraft reportedly executed 15 airstrikes targeting Houthi sites in the provinces of Sana’a (north), Al-Hudaydah (west), Al-Bayda, and Dhamar (central).

Houthi-affiliated media claimed that U.S.-British aircraft conducted four strikes on the Maintenance Camp in northern Al-Sittin Street in the capital, Sana’a. In Al-Hudaydah, four strikes targeted the Al-Khiteb area, while three strikes hit Al-Hudaydah International Airport. Additionally, one strike occurred south of Dhamar, and three targeted the Mikras district in Al-Bayda province.

These strikes follow less than a week after Israeli attacks on two ports and power stations in Al-Hudaydah, in response to a missile attack on Tel Aviv by Houthi forces.

Since November, the Iran-backed Houthi group has launched missile and drone attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea. In an effort to deter these actions, U.S. and British forces have been conducting strikes on Houthi positions since January 12, with U.S. forces intermittently targeting missiles and drones reportedly prepared for launch.