President Joe Biden, who has sought for three months to avoid escalating the war in the Middle East, said on Thursday night that he ordered the strikes in Yemen only after being provoked by “reckless attacks” that have endangered American and other mariners and threatened freedom of navigation in an important part of the world.
In a written statement, Biden detailed the “unprecedented Houthi attacks” that had affected the interests of 50 nations and endangered crews from over 20 countries since the Hamas terrorist attack of October 7.More than 2,000 ships have been forced to divert thousands of miles to avoid the Red Sea, causing weeks of delays in shipping, he said.
“These targeted strikes are a clear message the US and our partners will not tolerate attacks on our personnel or allow hostile actors to imperil freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most critical commercial routes,” he said of the allied retaliation which included Britain, the Netherlands, Australia, Canada and Bahrain. “I won’t hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary.”
“The response of the international community to these reckless attacks has been united and resolute,” he added.