London, April 30, 2025 — Marking an unprecedented step in the Red Sea conflict, Britain has initiated airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen — marking its inaugural joint military operation with President Donald Trump’s second term of office.
The coordinated attack, conducted late Monday evening by British and US forces, targeted key Houthi missile storage sites and radar installations believed to be behind attacks against international shipping in Red Sea and Gulf of Aden waters. British RAF Typhoon fighter jets operating from bases located nearby successfully conducted “precision strikes”, working alongside naval and air forces from both nations.
“This joint operation underscores our dedication to protecting international maritime security and maintaining commerce through vital waterways,” stated UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps in a statement. “The Houthi threat has grown increasingly reckless and unacceptable; we will act swiftly to end it.”
Airstrikes carried out by UK forces are the first direct military engagement since tensions flared earlier this year when Iran-backed Houthis intensified attacks against commercial vessels as revenge against Israel’s actions in Gaza. London issued multiple warnings but did not engage militarily until now.
White House officials confirmed President Donald Trump authorized this mission and described it as necessary measures to maintain regional stability. National Security Adviser John Ratcliffe described these strikes as sending “a clear signal to Iran and its allies that the U.S., together with our allies, will not tolerate threats to international trade or freedom of navigation,”
Houthi officials in Sana’a condemned the strikes as acts of aggression and threatened retaliation by targeting enemy interests across Yemen, according to a televised statement by their group’s spokesperson.
Humanitarian organizations have voiced alarm at renewed military activity, warning that any further escalation could exacerbate Yemen’s humanitarian crisis, where millions already face hunger and displacement.
Analysts note that this strike also signifies a strengthening of ties between London and Washington under Donald Trump’s renewed foreign policy initiative aimed at curbing Iranian influence in the Middle East.
As tensions escalate, international observers call for restraint and renewed diplomatic efforts in order to prevent wider conflict in an already volatile region.