Houthis Warn ‘All Force’ Will Be Used to Respond to U.S.

(RepublicanNews.org) – Following U.S. and U.K. cooperative military strikes against the Houthi rebels in Yemen, the group has vowed to forcefully respond to the bombing campaign as the conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate amid the ongoing siege of Palestinian territories by Israel.

The Iranian-backed rebel group in Yemen responded to a recent bombing campaign by the U.S. and U.K. by threatening forceful retaliation. In a statement to Newsweek on Thursday, Jan. 11, a Houthi deputy information secretary said the group will respond to any strike against them “with all force and determination” that will bring the region “on the verge of escalation” with an uncertain ending.

The information secretary, Nasreddin Amer, added that there are no justifications for the strikes against Ansar Allah, which is the official name of the Houthi rebels. He said that such attacks only show “support for Israel” as the Jewish state continues to kill “oppressed Palestinian people.” After Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, they retaliated with a military siege on the Gaza Strip, resulting in thousands more deaths and widespread calls from Democratic lawmakers for a ceasefire in the region.

The operation, which conducted around a dozen airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen, was later confirmed by President Joe Biden in a White House statement. Biden said the joint operation with the U.K. was also supported by the Netherlands, Bahrain, Australia, and Canada.

Biden confirmed that the strikes hit “a number of targets” used by the rebels “to endanger freedom of navigation” in the Red Sea, which Biden sailed “one of the world’s most vital waterways.” The president said the strikes “are in direct response” to attacks by the Houthi on ships coming in and out of Israeli ports, which he said put U.S. personnel in danger, as well as “civilian mariners,” international partners, and put trade and “freedom of navigation” at risk.

Biden called the operation “a clear message” to enemies of the U.S. and its partners that attacks on their personnel would not be tolerated. Officials say the U.S. is preparing for retaliation from the rebel group.