Biden: Attacks against Houthi targets will continue

2024-01-18 22:27:47, Kosova & Bota CNA

President Joe Biden said Thursday that US military strikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen will continue. He admitted, however, that US and British bombings have not yet stopped militant attacks on shipping in the Red Sea that have damaged the global market.

Two US officials said the United States carried out a fifth strike on Thursday morning that targeted another missile launch site. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details that were not yet public.

President Biden told reporters, before leaving the White House for North Carolina for a speech on domestic policy, that Washington would continue the attacks.

"When you ask if they are achieving the goal of stopping the attacks on the Houthis, no. Will the attacks continue, the answer is yes," said President Biden.

The latest attacks are being carried out as the United States reinstated the Houthi movement on its list of terrorist organizations. Sanctions against terrorist organizations aim to cut them off from their financial resources.

Despite sanctions and military strikes, including a large-scale operation by US and British warships and warplanes that struck more than 60 targets across Yemen, Houthi rebels continue to attack commercial and military vessels. The United States has strongly warned Iran to stop sending weapons to the group.

For months, Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for attacks on ships in the Red Sea that they say are linked to Israel or headed for Israeli ports. They say their strikes are aimed at ending the Israeli air and ground offensive in the Gaza Strip that was triggered by the Palestinian militant group Hamas' October 7 terror attack in southern Israel.

Attacks have targeted merchant ships transiting the critical Bab el-Mandeb strait that links Asian markets to Europe since the Oct. 7 attack and Israel's subsequent war against the militant group in Gaza.

The US and its allies have formed Operation Prosperity Guardian to protect shipping traffic, and warships from the United States, France and the United Kingdom are currently patrolling the area.