UK joins US as military launches strikes against Houthis in Yemen in joint operation

The UK joined the US in military strikes against Houthis in Yemen in a joint operation - the first time since returned to the White House. The (MoD) confirmed the strikes on Tuesday were in response to Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Careful intelligence analysis identified a "cluster of buildings", used by the Houthis to manufacture drones of the type used to attack ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, fifteen miles south of Sanaa, according to the MoD. Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s conducted the strikes using Paveway IV precision-guided bombs. The strike was conducted after dark to reduce the possibility of civilians being in the area, the military added.

Defence Secretary John Healey said: "This government will always act in the interests of our national and economic security.

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"Royal Air Force Typhoons have successfully conducted strikes against a Houthi military target in Yemen and all UK aircraft and personnel have returned safely to base.

"We conducted these strikes, supported by the US, to degrade Houthi capabilities and prevent further attacks against UK and International shipping.

"This action was taken in response to a persistent threat from the Houthis to freedom of navigation. A 55% drop in shipping through the Red Sea has already cost billions, fuelling regional instability and risking economic security for families in the UK.

"The Government is steadfast in our commitment to reinforcing global stability and protecting British working people. I am proud of the dedication and professionalism shown by the service men and women involved in this operation." The Houthis reported several strikes around Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, which the group has held since 2014. Other strikes hit around Saada.

The UK have taken part in airstrikes alongside the US since the administration began its campaign of strikes targeting the Houthis back in January 2024. However, this new strike is the first to see the British involved in the campaign under Trump. The US military’s Central Command did not acknowledge the strike.

The joint U.K.-U.S. strike follows an alleged a US airstrike on Monday that hit a prison holding African migrants, killing at least 68 people and wounding 47 others. The US military said it was investigating.

On April 18, an American strike on the Ras Isa fuel port killed at least 74 people and wounded 171 others in the deadliest-known attack of the American campaign.

The US is conducting strikes on Yemen from its two aircraft carriers in the region — the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea and the USS Carl Vinson in the Arabian Sea. The US is targeting the Houthis because of the group’s attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, a crucial global trade route, and on .