US, UK strike Yemen to counter Houthi attacks; Tesla, Volvo halt production

US and British warplanes, ships and submarines struck across Yemen overnight in retaliation against Iran-backed Houthi forces for attacks on Red Sea shipping, a widening of regional conflict triggered by Israel’s war in Gaza.

Witnesses confirmed explosions throughout Yemen, saying raids targeted a military base adjacent to Sanaa airport, a military site near Taiz airport, a Houthi naval base in Hodeidah and military sites in Hajjah governorate.

“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,” US President Joe Biden said.The Houthis said five of their fighters had been killed in a total of 73 air strikes and said they would retaliate for the strikes and continue their attacks on shipping, which they describe as intended to support Palestinians against Israel.

A US official said more than a dozen locations were targeted in strikes that were not just symbolic but intended to weaken the Houthis’ military capabilities. “We were going after very specific capability in very specific locations with precision munitions,” the official said. In Yemen’s main Red Sea port Hodeidah, a resident who gave only his first name Mahmoud said troops were spreading through the streets and military vehicles were leaving barracks with security escorts.

Also, oil climbed more than 2 per cent on Friday, as some oil tankers diverted course from the Red Sea.Brent crude futures were up $1.61, or 2.1 per cent, at $79.02 a barrel at 10:45 a.m. ET (15:45 GMT), while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures climbed $1.51, or 2 per cent, to $73.53. Moreover, Tesla will suspend most car production at its factory near Berlin from January 29 to February 11, the company said late on Thursday, citing a lack of components owing to shifts in transport routes because of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea. The partial halt to production is evidence that the crisis in the Red Sea has hit Europe’s largest economy.