28 Dec 2024 | 04:43 PM UTC
Yemen: Further US and UK airstrikes likely through at least late January /update 1
Further airstrikes by US, UK, and Israel likely in Al-Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen through late January.
The US, UK, and Israel will likely conduct additional airstrikes against military targets in Al-Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen through at least late January 2025. Targeted strikes began in early 2024 in response to Al-Houthi drone and missile strikes against commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, as well as missile and drone attacks targeting major Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv. Although the Al-Houthis claim to have expanded their operations to target vessels in the Mediterranean Sea, no such attacks have as yet been confirmed.
US and UK airstrikes have primarily focused on disabling radar systems and destroying storage sites for drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles located in Al-Bayda', Dhamar, Hajjah, Al-Hudaydah, Sana'a, and Ta'izz governorates. Previous coalition airstrikes have also targeted areas in or near Abs, Sa'adah, and Zabid. Israeli strikes, meanwhile, have hit both military and civilian infrastructure, including the port of Al-Hudaydah and Sana'a International Airport (SAH). The Al-Houthis intend to continue their maritime harassment campaign and attacks on Israel as long as the Israel-Hamas conflict persists.
The Al-Houthis are highly likely to escalate their attacks in the coming days and weeks, further disrupting shipping in the region. Additionally, the Al-Houthis will probably organize mass demonstrations in areas under their control to protest the Israel-Hamas conflict and airstrikes in northwestern Yemen. These gatherings will likely remain largely peaceful, occurring primarily in city centers, along major roads, near mosques, and outside government buildings. However, solidarity protests in support of the Al-Houthis may also take place in other countries across 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), emerged in the late 1980s and took over Sana'a and other major cities in northwestern Yemen in September 2014. The group is 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.
