The British military announced it conducted a combined operation with U.S. forces against the Houthi militia in Yemen, marking their first action together since President Trump returned to office and escalated efforts against this Iran-supported faction.
The American military has not yet responded to this operation, which the British Defense Ministry divulged occurred overnight on Wednesday. The aim was to undermine the Houthis’ capabilities and prevent further attacks on U.K. and global shipping.
According to the ministry’s statement, Typhoon jets equipped with precision-guided bombs participated in the operation. They targeted “a group of buildings used by the Houthis to produce drones that have been employed to assault vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, located approximately 15 miles south of Sana,” referencing the Yemeni capital.
While the ministry did not provide specific information on casualties or damage, it assured that meticulous planning was executed to minimize risks to civilians and non-military structures.
The statement also noted, “The strike occurred at night, further reducing the chance of any civilians being present in the area.”
Since fall 2023, the Houthis have consistently targeted commercial and naval vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, claiming their actions are in solidarity with Palestinians facing attacks in Gaza.
Previously, Britain participated in joint operations against Houthi threats, which had been authorized by former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. starting January 2024.
In March, President Trump initiated a more aggressive strategy, known as “Operation Rough Rider.” The U.S. military stated that since then, American forces have attacked over 800 targets.
This recent joint operation followed an incident where Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared sensitive details about a U.S. mission in Yemen via the unclassified Signal messaging app, raising concerns about the integrity of operational security and whether it might dissuade allies from joining future missions.
