US and UK launch joint operations against Houthis in response to Red Sea ship attacks

As the sun sets over the Akrotiri base in Cyprus, a celestial dance unfolds. Two pairs of Typhoon FGR4 aircraft, gracefully reported by British TV channels, take flight.

Supported by the rhythm of a Voyager aerial refueling aircraft, they wield Paveway IV guided missiles like notes in a symphony, contributing to the precision strikes against Houthi rebel targets in Yemen—a poignant performance in the ongoing geopolitical saga.

In the midst of this aerial ballet, Yemen's Houthi rebels stand as pillars of defiance against the newly announced U.S. maritime protection force. The eloquence of their resistance, emphasized by senior Houthi official Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, remains unswayed by global mobilization.

Their conditions for reconsidering maritime strategy echo as demands for a cessation of Israeli actions in Gaza and an unimpeded flow of essential supplies to the besieged population.

On Jan. 11 at 2:30 a.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command forces, in coordination with the United Kingdom, and support from Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, and Bahrain conducted joint strikes on Houthi targets to degrade their capability to continue their illegal and… pic.twitter.com/bR8biMolSx

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 12, 2024

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's coalition initiative, born out of disruptions caused by Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, adds complexity to this narrative. The Houthi offensive, intertwined with Iran, strategically targets commercial ships to apply pressure on Israel to cease its Gaza bombardment.

Austin's gravitas emphasizes the severity of these attacks, labeling them a "serious international problem" that demands a robust response from the 10-nation coalition.

Houthi Major General Yusuf al-Madani sounds a warning: "Any escalation in Gaza is an escalation in the Red Sea." Their readiness to confront any force interfering with their objectives resonates through this geopolitical symphony. Spokesperson al-Bukhaiti reaffirms the group's determination to resist any U.S.-led coalition operating in the Red Sea.

As international tension crescendos, Houthi negotiator Mohammed Abdulsalam underscores the group's stance, linking attacks to Israeli actions. Amid debates over the necessity of a U.S.-led naval patrol, concerns rise about the cascading impact on global trade, particularly inflating natural gas and oil prices.

The disruption caused by Houthi attacks forces major shipping companies, including Mediterranean Shipping Company and BP, to suspend transit through the Red Sea. Approximately 12% of global trade, passing through this crucial waterway, faces rerouting, leading to higher costs and delays for energy, food, and consumer goods deliveries.

As the world watches this unfolding crisis, the Houthi rebels' steadfastness not only poses a challenge to international efforts to secure vital trade routes but also amplifies the broader implications on inflation and global markets.

[With information sourced from Al Jazeera]