Houthis Threaten to Escalate Red Sea Attacks as U.S. and Britain Strike Yemen

Hodeida, Yemen — The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen have issued threats of intensifying attacks on Red Sea shipping following overnight strikes by the United States and Britain, which the rebels claim resulted in the death of 16 individuals.

Three officials informed CBS News national security correspondent David Martin that the U.S. deployed a 5,000-pound bunker-buster bomb as part of the joint strike against Houthi targets. The bomb, known as GBU-72, was released by a U.S. Air Force jet in an attempt to obliterate an underground Houthi facility. While one official confirmed that the bomb hit the intended target, it remains uncertain whether the facility has been destroyed, or if there were any civilian casualties.

Claims of Casualties by the Houthis

The Houthis, who maintain control over a significant portion of Yemen, asserted that 16 individuals were killed, with 40 others sustaining injuries, including an unspecified number of civilians. However, there has been no independent verification of these figures. If corroborated, this would be among the deadliest strikes since the U.S. and the U.K. commenced their campaign in January against the Houthis, whose rocket attacks have severely disrupted the crucial Red Sea trade route.

The Iran-backed Houthis have conducted numerous drone and missile assaults on vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, including U.S. warships, since November, citing solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip during the Israel-Hamas conflict. In response to the recent joint airstrikes by the U.S. and the U.K., the rebels launched a missile attack on the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Red Sea. Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree declared that the group "will not hesitate to respond directly and immediately to every new aggression on Yemeni territories."

International Intervention and Reactions

The U.S. Central Command stated that 13 Houthi sites were targeted in the latest strikes. The British defense ministry reported that its warplanes participated in "a joint operation with U.S. forces against Houthi military facilities." British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak justified the strikes as self-defense measures against an ongoing threat, with the rebels having conducted 197 attacks since November. Furthermore, Iran condemned the military action by the U.S. and the U.K., suggesting that it aims to "spread insecurity in the region."