Smoke and flames continue to billow from the Greek-operated crude oil tanker Sounion after it has been taken under tow in the Red Sea, September 14, 2024. The ship suffered damage following a series of attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels beginning on August 21. EUNAVFOR Aspides
Security

US and UK forces conduct joint operation against Houthi anti-ship drone makers

Britain says intelligence identified buildings used by Houthis to make drones.

Reuters

US and British forces conducted a joint military operation in Yemen on Tuesday, according to Britain's Ministry of Defence, which said the operation was against a Houthi military target responsible for making drones like those used to attack shipping.

President Donald Trump ordered the intensification of US strikes on Yemen last month, with his administration saying it will continue assaulting Iran-backed Houthi terrorists until they stop attacking Red Sea shipping.

Britain and the US have also previously conducted joint operations and strikes in Yemen.

The British statement said intelligence analysis identified a cluster of buildings located some 15 miles (24 kilometres) south of Yemen's capital Sanaa that were used by the Houthis to manufacture drones of the type used to attack ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. It did not mention details about any casualties.

The strike was conducted after dark, when the likelihood of any civilians being in the area was reduced, the British statement said, adding that its aircraft returned safely. There was no immediate US military comment.

Houthi-controlled television claimed on Monday a US airstrike killed 68 people after striking a detention centre for African migrants in Yemen.

A US defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said on Monday the US military was aware of claims of civilian casualties and was conducting its assessment.

Recent US strikes have "killed dozens", including 74 at an oil terminal in mid-April in what was the deadliest strike in Yemen under Trump so far, according to the Houthi-run "health ministry", whose claims have not been verified.

The US military said over the weekend it has struck over 800 targets since mid-March that it says killed numerous of Houthi fighters and leaders while destroying the militant group's facilities.

Since November 2023, they have launched attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, saying they were targeting ships linked to Israel.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington and Gnaneshwar Rajan in Bengaluru; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Lincoln Feast.)