Yemen: US Launches Fresh Missiles on Houthi Target

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The Facts

  • The US on Saturday launched fresh air strikes against a Houthi radar site in Yemen "to degrade the Houthi's ability to attack maritime vessels."

  • Described by the US as "follow-on action," the strikes were carried out by the Navy destroyer USS Carney and come a day after US and UK forces reportedly hit 60 targets across 28 sites in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.


The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

The strikes targeting the Iranian-backed Houthis have come after diplomatic efforts by the US and its allies failed to deter the rebels from further operations against international commercial shipping and US and UK warships. The decisive action against the militants proves that the West stands united in defense of international law and free trade. Since military power seems to be the only language the Houthis and Iran understand, the rules-based international order must not shy away from taking further action if necessary.

Establishment-critical narrative

With the US-British aggression against Yemen, the West's moral bankruptcy in defense of its so-called "rules-based order" is now on full display. While Washington supports Israel's genocidal Gaza campaign, it's now bombing Yemen for the Houthis daring to stand up for Palestinians by targeting Israeli-linked ships. As so often, the latest US aggression is a recipe for more, not less, violence and instability. The West has deliberately expanded the Israel-Hamas war to distract from Israeli war crimes and will suffer the consequences of its heavy-handed actions.


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Establishment split

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