People took to the streets of Sanaa on Friday (January 12) to protest after the U.S. and Britain launched strikes across Yemen overnight in retaliation against Houthi forces for attacks on Red Sea shipping, Reuters reports.
A NATO spokesperson confirmed that strikes by the U.S. and British militaries against Iran-backed Houthi forces were "defensive, and designed to preserve freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most vital waterways."
The commander of U.S. aerial operations in the Middle East, Air Force Lieutenant-General Alex Grynkewich, said 60 targets at 16 separate locations had been hit using more than 100 precision-guided munitions.
The Houthis said five of their fighters had been killed in a total of 73 air strikes, and that they would retaliate and continue their attacks on shipping, which they describe as a demonstration of support for Palestinians in their conflict with Israel.
