10 Countries Issue Joint Statement on Strikes against Targets in Yemen

Yemen

The United States, the United Kingdom, and eight other countries have issued a joint statement on the strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.

"These precision strikes were intended to disrupt and degrade the capabilities the Houthis use to threaten global trade and the lives of international mariners in one of the worlds most critical waterways," the statement said.

Joint strikes were conducted in accordance with the inherent right of individual and collective self-defense, consistent with the UN Charter, the statement added.

"Our aim remains to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea, but let our message be clear: we will not hesitate to defend lives and protect the free flow of commerce in one of the worlds most critical waterways in the face of continued threats," the governments said in the joint statement.

US President Joe Biden announced in a statement earlier that the US military forces, together with the United Kingdom and with support from other countries successfully conducted strikes against a number of targets in Yemen, saying that the strikes are in direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks against international maritime vessels in the Red Sea.

"These targeted strikes are a clear message that the United States and our partners will not tolerate attacks on our personnel or allow hostile actors to imperil freedom of navigation in one of the worlds most critical commercial routes," Biden said.

"I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary," he added.

(QNA)