US embassy in Iraq reportedly under attack in response to US airstrikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen

A militant attack on the U.S. embassy in Iraq was reported after the U.S. issued a "massive retaliatory" airstrike campaign against numerous targets in Yemen.

Reports on social media said that sirens were heard at the embassy in Iraq overnight just hours after the U.S. confirmed the joint airstrikes on the rebels with aid from Britain.

The Jerusalem Post reported that the attack on the embassy could not be confirmed apart from social media reports.

Abdel-Malek al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthi militants, had threatened a response to the attacks from the U.S.

"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.

The White House released a statement attributed to President Joe Biden saying the airstrikes on the Houthis were a direct response to about 130 attacks in the Red Sea aimed at stopping global trade.

"Today, at my direction, U.S. military forces - together with the United Kingdom and with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands - successfully conducted strikes against a number of targets in Yemen used by Houthi rebels to endanger freedom of navigation in one of the world's most vital waterways," read the statement.

"These attacks have endangered U.S. personnel, civilian mariners, and our partners, jeopardized trade, and threatened freedom of navigation," he added. "More than 50 nations have been affected in 27 attacks on international commercial shipping."

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin described the attacks in a statement Thursday night.

"Today’s strikes targeted the Houthis’ unmanned aerial vehicle, uncrewed surface vessel, land-attack cruise missile, and coastal radar and air surveillance capabilities," he said.

"The United States maintains its right to self-defense and, if necessary, we will take follow-on actions to protect U.S. forces," he added.

The U.S. has not attacked the Houthi rebels since 2016.

About 10% of the global economy flows through the Red Sea, and it was blocked by Houthi aggression. Last week, the U.S. joined in a statement by 14 countries condemning the actions of the militants.

"The Houthis will bear the responsibility for the consequences should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, or the free flow of commerce in the region's critical waterways," they said.

Here's more about the US attack on Houthis:

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