NATO affirms U.S. and British strikes on Houthis defensive in nature
Illustrative photo (Photo: Getty Images)
The strikes by American and British military on Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen were defensive and aimed at preserving freedom of navigation on one of the world's most crucial waterways, reports Reuters.
"Houthi forces are supported, supplied and equipped by Iran. So Tehran has a special responsibility to rein in its proxies," stated a NATO representative.
He noted that the North Atlantic Alliance did not participate in the strikes, but the United States and the United Kingdom are NATO members, and two other NATO members, the Netherlands and Canada, provided support.
U.S. and allied strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen
Since November of last year, Houthi rebels in Yemen have been attacking merchant ships in the Red Sea, claiming that they had connections with Israel.
This week, Yemeni militants carried out their largest attack, which was successfully repelled by the United States and Britain.
On the night of January 12, in response to the continuous attacks by militants, the United Kingdom and the U.S. launched powerful strikes on Houthi-related targets in Yemen.
Learn more about who the Houthis are and why they are attacking ships in our material.
