What the US-UK and the Houthis are saying about the attack in Yemen

    A Houthi rebel helicopter flies over a cargo ship in the Red Sea

The country's Houthi rebels confirmed the attack on several cities in Yemen early Friday morning. Houthi official Abdul Kader Al-Mortada said this in a post on social media X (Twitter). 

US President Joe Biden said that the United States and the United Kingdom, with the cooperation of Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands, have attacked areas used by the Houthi rebels.

Houthi official Abdul Qader Al-Mortada wrote in a post on the X account, "The US-Zionist-British aggressors attacked Yemen's capital Sana'a, Hodeidah Governorate, Saada and Dhamar."

In a statement from the White House, Biden said these attacks were carried out in response to Houthi attacks on ships operating in international waters in the Red Sea.

Biden claimed that the Houthi attack has put the lives of US officials, civilian sailors and our allies at risk. Freedom of trade and navigation is also threatened.

The US president also said he would not "hesitate" to order further steps to ensure the protection of people and the free flow of trade.

Meanwhile, several US officials told reporters that the United States and the United Kingdom have launched strikes targeting Houthi military strongholds in Yemen. In this case, an attempt has been made to avoid damage to the surrounding areas. 

The officials alleged that the activities of the Houthis are now a threat to the United States and the whole world.

According to a statement by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, the attack was carried out to destroy the radar, missile and drone attack capabilities of the Iran-backed Houthis targeting foreign ships. 

In a statement, Austin said the strikes targeted sites associated with the Houthis' unmanned aerial vehicles, ballistic and cruise missiles, coastal radar and air surveillance capabilities.

Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States said in a joint statement, "Our goal is to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea." 

But we also want to make it clear that we will do everything to save lives. I will do everything to maintain free trade on one of the world's trade routes in the face of constant threats.

A week ago, 10 other countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, warned of consequences if commercial ships were attacked again in the southern Red Sea. Houthis attacked again last Tuesday night.