15 February 2024
The Houthi militant group has accused the United States and Britain of carrying out over 400 airstrikes in Yemen since January, urging American and British citizens to leave the country within 30 days.
Spokesperson Daifalah Al Shami claimed 203 of the attacks were aerial strikes, including 86 last week alone. He refused to disclose damage to Houthi forces but insisted the attacks aim to influence their stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The accusation follows Houthi claims of launching over 30 attacks on ships linked to Israel, the US, and UK. Al Shami reiterated their warning that these ships are targets and vowed to continue attacks on Israeli vessels navigating the Red Sea.
The US and UK haven’t responded to the Houthi claims but reportedly conduct airstrikes in the Hodeidah port area. They deny destabilizing the Red Sea trade route and aim to weaken Houthi positions.
This escalation comes amid ongoing tensions over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping. Whether the 30-day ultimatum holds weight remains unclear, but the situation highlights the complex and volatile circumstances in Yemen.
