News blog about the war in the Middle East
USA and Great Britain attack Houthis again
From dpa, rtr, afp, t-online, bm, te, sic, fho, lec, mam, csi
Updated on January 13, 2024 – 6:33 a.m. Reading time: 51 min.
The guided missile destroyer “USS Carney” is sailing in the Bay of Souda: According to Houthi reports, the Yemeni capital was also attacked. (Source: Petty Officer 3rd Class Bill Dod/dpa)
A German frigate is to take part in the EU naval mission in the Red Sea. USA and Great Britain attack the Houthis in Yemen. All information in the news blog.
The most important things at a glance
Hamas terrorists crossed the border into Israel on October 7 and carried out massacres. Since then, Israel has been attacking targets in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. This news blog informs you about the current developments:
USA and Great Britain attack Houthi positions
5.40 a.m.: On Saturday night, the USA again attacked a position of the Houthi rebels in Yemen, which are supported by the regime in Iran. The Houthi television station reports “a series” of attacks by the USA and Great Britain on the Yemeni capital Sanaa. Initially nothing was known about possible victims.
The US military said the target of the attack was a Houthi radar system. The attack with Tomahawk cruise missiles was launched from the US destroyer USS Carney. It comes after the military strike the day before, as it is said. This was a response by the USA and Great Britain to the numerous attacks that the Houthis had carried out on merchant ships in the Red Sea in recent weeks.
Expert: “For the Houthis, the US attack was an upgrade”
5.35 a.m.: “This attack was an upgrade for the Houthis,” says political scientist Thomas Jäger about the attack by the USA and Great Britain on Friday. The great power USA is competing with a regional terrorist group. The Houthis had already threatened a counterattack on Friday. The Houthis have the will to do so and the escalation, says Jäger. “It’s difficult to say whether they also have the military capabilities to respond,” the political scientist told t-online. Read the entire interview here.
Russia condemns US and UK attack on Houthi positions
4.10 a.m.: Russia strongly condemned US and British attacks on Houthi militia positions in Yemen on Friday at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. Russian UN Ambassador Vasily Nebensia spoke to the committee in New York of “blatant armed aggression against another country.”
“These states carried out a mass attack on Yemeni territory,” says Nebensia. “I’m not talking about an attack on a group within the country, but an attack on the population of the country as a whole. Planes were used, warships and submarines.”
British UN Ambassador Barbara Woodward says her country’s armed forces have taken “limited, necessary and appropriate steps in self-defense.” “During this operation, particular care was taken to minimize the risk to civilians.”
German combat ship “Hessen” is to take part in the EU mission in the Red Sea
3:02 a.m.: According to a newspaper report, Germany wants to take part in a new EU naval mission with a combat ship. The frigate “Hessen” (frigate type: F 124) is scheduled to set off for the Red Sea on February 1st, writes the “Welt am Sonntag” according to the preliminary report, citing high-level informed circles in Berlin and Brussels. This serves to secure maritime traffic in the Red Sea against attacks by the Yemeni Houthi rebels.
Until the end of last year, the “Hessen” was underway for six months in the North Sea and the Arctic as part of a so-called rapidly deployable NATO task force (VGTF) for exercises and to deter Russia. The combat ship carries radar reconnaissance that can detect 1,000 targets simultaneously, anti-aircraft missiles, attack helicopters and around 240 emergency personnel.
Houthi attacks in the Red Sea cost 360 million euros per hour
2:20 a.m.: According to media reports, the economic damage caused by the Houthis’ ongoing attacks amounts to 360 million euros per hour. According to the preliminary report, “Welt am Sonntag” reports this, citing information from the European External Action Service (EEAS). This number was recently mentioned by one of the leading EEAS diplomats at a meeting of the 27 responsible ambassadors in the Political and Security Committee (PSC). The reasons are detours of up to 6,000 kilometers, rising energy costs, traffic jams in handling and disruptions in the supply chains.
