WASHINGTON, Jan 12 (Bernama-Sputnik) — The airstrikes by the United States and its allies against the positions and facilities of the Houthis in Yemen have provoked protests in front of the White House, a Sputnik correspondent reported.
Protesters gathered near the White House late on Thursday, calling on Washington to stop the conflicts in the Middle East. In addition to ending the Gaza war, the protesters are also calling on Washington to keep its “hands off of Yemen”.
The action is proceeding peacefully, and police are present at the site but not interfering, the correspondent reported.
The US and the United Kingdom carried out 23 overnight airstrikes against Houthi positions in four governorates of Yemen, including the capital Sana’a and the cities of Al Hudaydah, Saada and Taiz, provincial government officials said.
The US and UK officials have confirmed the strikes, saying these were targeting Houthi military facilities and positions in Yemen in response to attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea and not civilian population centres.
The Houthis said they were carrying out strikes against UK and US military bases and positions, and threatened that Washington and London would pay a “high price” for this massive attack.
On Thursday, the US Central Command said in a statement that the Houthis have attacked commercial ships in the Red Sea 27 times since Nov 19. The Houthis have previously announced their plans to prevent the passage of ships linked to Israeli companies or bound for Israel in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea until the latter’s military actions in the Gaza Strip end.
Meanwhile, US House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell both expressed support for President Joe Biden’s decision to strike the Houthis in response to the group’s attacks on commercial vessels in the southern Red Sea.
“This action by the US and British forces is long overdue, and we must hope that these operations indicate a true shift in the Biden Administration’s approach to Iran and its proxies that are engaging in such evil and wreaking such havoc,” Johnson said in a statement Thursday night.
“America must always project strength, especially in these dangerous times.”
Johnson said the message must be made clear that there is a serious price to pay for attacks on US personnel and commercial vessels.
McConnell said he welcomed the strikes.
“President Biden’s decision is long overdue,” McConnell said in a press release.
McConnell said he hopes Biden’s decision to strike the Houthis will restore deterrence in the Middle East.
