10 Nov 2024 | 05:57 PM UTC
Yemen: Further US and UK airstrikes likely through at least late December
Further airstrikes by US and UK likely in Al-Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen through late December; retaliatory Al-Houthi strikes likely.
The US and UK will likely conduct additional airstrikes against military targets in Al-Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen through at least late December. The US and UK have targeted military sites belonging to the Al-Houthis since Jan. 12 in response to the group's drone and missile attacks against commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The Al-Houthis have also claimed to have expanded their attacks by targeting vessels in the Mediterranean Sea; however, no such attacks in the Mediterranean Sea have been confirmed to have occurred as of Nov. 10.
US and UK airstrikes have targeted radar systems as well as drone, ballistic missile, and cruise missile storage sites near or in Al-Bayda', Dhamar, Hajjah, Al-Hudaydah, Sana'a, and Ta'izz governorates. Previous coalition airstrikes have also targeted locations in or near Abs, Sa'adah, and Zabid. The Al-Houthis have vowed to continue their maritime harassment campaign so long as the Israel-Hamas conflict continues.
The Al-Houthis will almost certainly launch retaliatory attacks over the coming days and weeks and continue to disrupt shipping. They will also likely continue to organize mass demonstrations in areas under their control in opposition to the Israel-Hamas conflict and airstrikes in northwestern Yemen. Most such gatherings will probably remain largely peaceful and will most likely occur in city centers along major roads, near mosques, and outside government buildings. Protests in solidarity with the Al-Houthis cannot be ruled out in some cities elsewhere in the region.
Heed the instructions of local security forces. If incoming fire is reported in the general vicinity, stay indoors, away from windows and exterior walls. If possible, move to a ground floor or basement. Maintain contact with your country's diplomatic mission. Avoid all demonstrations.
The Al-Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah (Partisans of God), hail from the Houthi tribe in Yemen. The group emerged in the late 1980s and took over Sana'a and other major cities in northwestern Yemen in September 2014. The Al-Houthis are politically and militarily aligned with Iran and its other proxies in the region.
The Al-Houthis have launched dozens of attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea since November 2023 in opposition to the Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip. According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the US and UK airstrikes are aimed at degrading the group's capacity to attack maritime vessels and are separate from Operation Prosperity Guardian, a defensive coalition of over 20 countries operating in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden. The Al-Houthi forces have employed anti-ship ballistic missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and cruise missiles in their attacks.
