Houthis Say UK, US Will Pay 'Heavy Price' for Airstrikes, No Pause on Attacks on Israel-Bound Ships

Houthi rebels on Friday warned the US and the UK that they will pay a ‘heavy price’ for launching airstrikes that targeted several cities of Yemen.

American and British forces struck Yemen – swathes of which are controlled by Houthis – early on Friday as a measure to deter the Iran-backed group from conducting disruptive attacks on Red Sea shipping which they claim are actions taken in solidarity with Gaza.

“Our country was subjected to a massive aggressive attack by American and British ships, submarines and warplanes. America and Britain will have to prepare to pay a heavy price and bear all the dire consequences of this blatant aggression,” said Hussein al-Ezzi, the rebels’ deputy foreign minister.

The US and the UK armed with fighter jets, Tomahawk missiles and more than 100 precision-guided munitions struck 60 targets at 16 Houthi locations. The US and British strikes targeted an airbase, airports and a military camp, the Huthis’ Al-Masirah TV station said. Iran-backed Houthi forces said the airstrikes killed five people and wounded six.

“The raids led to the death of five martyrs and the injury of six others from our armed forces,” Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree wrote on X.

The Houthis said that these airstrikes were not needed because they did not pose a threat to international shipping. “There is absolutely no justification for this aggression against Yemen, as there was no threat to international navigation in the Red and Arabian Seas,” Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam said.

“We affirm that the targeting was and will continue to affect Israeli ships or those heading to the ports of occupied Palestine,” he further added.

Iran, Russia, Oman and Turkey condemned the airstrikes on Yemen and accused the UK and the US of stoking regional tensions. Hamas also condemned the attacks and said this can further destabilise the security situation in West Asia. Saudi Arabia and China urged all sides to exercise restraint.

Hamas also vowed repercussions for the escalation of tensions in West Asia. “We vigorously condemn the flagrant American-British attack on Yemen. We hold them responsible for the repercussions on regional security,” the Palestinian terror outfit said in a statement.

(with inputs from CNN and AFP)