US launches 'massive retaliatory' airstrikes against Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen

Two U.S. officials confirmed to Fox News that the U.S. launched a "massive retaliatory" attack in a joint effort with Britain against Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen.

The 28 attacks on Houthi targets in Yemen included shipping lanes and were supported by the countries of Australia, the Netherlands, Bahrain, and Canada.

President Joe Biden said that he had authorized the strikes "in direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks against international maritime vessels in the Red Sea—including the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles for the first time in history."

He went on to say that the airstrikes were a response to more than 130 attacks on U.S. forces in the region by Houthis.

"These targeted strikes are a clear message that the United States and our partners will not tolerate attacks on our personnel or allow hostile actors to imperil freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most critical commercial routes," Biden added.

Abdel-Malek al-Houthi. the leader of the Houthi militants, released a statement saying that they would respond to the attacks with greater force.

"Any American attack will not remain without a response. The response will be greater than the attack that was carried out with twenty drones and a number of missiles," he said, according to Fox News.

The war in Yemen is widely considered a proxy war between U.S. interests and those of Iran. The U.S. had previously sunk four Houthi vessels on New Year's Day after the militants spent weeks harassing and attacking commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

"I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary," Biden concluded.

Here's a news report about the attacks:

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