In a joint military operation, the United States and the United Kingdom, with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, conducted targeted strikes against multiple Houthi-controlled locations in Yemen on Thursday. The move came as a response to repeated drone and missile attacks by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels on international maritime vessels in the Red Sea.

US President Joe Biden stated that he ordered the strikes "in direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks against international maritime vessels in the Red Sea." The military action involved over 60 targets at 16 Iranian-backed Houthi militant locations, targeting command and control nodes, munitions depots, launching systems, production facilities, and air defense radar systems, according to US Air Forces Central Commander Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich.

The coalition forces, including fighter jets and Tomahawk missiles, aimed to degrade the Houthi rebels' capabilities and deter further attacks on vessels navigating the Red Sea. This marks the first known strike against the Houthis in Yemen, as the US had previously sought to avoid direct involvement due to concerns about escalating tensions in the region.

The USS Florida, a guided missile submarine, was part of the attack, along with British Typhoon jets and Voyager air-to-air refueling tankers. At least 14 targets were successfully hit during the mission, according to UK junior armed forces minister James Heappey.

French naval forces, under national command, were reported to be patrolling the waters where the Houthis operated, providing cooperation and intelligence sharing with the US. The international response underscores the growing concern over the threat to one of the world's most critical waterways.

While the senior US military official could not provide an exact percentage of Houthi assets destroyed, he emphasized that precision-guided munitions were used to minimize collateral damage and avoid targeting civilian population centers. President Biden warned that further measures may be taken to protect people and international commerce if necessary.

The strikes come amid heightened tensions in the region, with the Israel-Hamas conflict ongoing, and reflect the international community's commitment to safeguarding maritime security in vital waterways.