:quality(85)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/NKDMAPLVBVCQZKQRUNWQUFBCZI.jpg "The United States and its allies bombed strategic positions of the Houthi rebels in Yemen")
US and Allies Conduct Strikes in Yemen, US Bombs Militia Enclaves in Iraq
In a joint statement on Tuesday, 24 countries, including the United States, Germany, and Australia, announced that they had carried out additional strikes against eight targets in Houthi-held areas of Yemen. The bombings were aimed at disrupting and degrading the ability of the Houthis to attack ships in the Red Sea.
The United States also announced that, by order of President Joe Biden, its military forces bombed three enclaves used by the Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah and other pro-Iran groups in Iraq. The Pentagon indicated that the action was a direct response to increasing attacks against US and coalition personnel in Iraq and Syria by militias supported by Iran.
The US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, emphasized that the US is not seeking to escalate the conflict in the region but is fully prepared to take further measures to protect its people and facilities. The attacks in Iraq targeted Kataib Hezbollah headquarters and rocket and missile storage sites, among others.
These actions come in response to the threat posed by militia and pro-Iran groups in the region, with the US and its allies condemning the attacks and demanding that they end. The statement also emphasized that those who supply the Houthis with weapons to carry out attacks are violating UN Security Council resolution 2216 and international law.
The US Central Command (Centcom) confirmed that the attacks in Iraq occurred at 00:15 Iraqi time on Wednesday and warned that further measures may be taken to defend US interests in the region. The announcement of these strikes follows the issuance of sanctions against leaders and supporters of Kataib Hezbollah and the airline Fly Baghdad for their support of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and related groups in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.
The US actions in both Yemen and Iraq reflect its ongoing commitment to protecting its interests and personnel in the region.