Biden Issues No-Nonsense Warning: “I Will Not Hesitate…”

Biden Issues No-Nonsense Warning: "I Will Not Hesitate..."

(FeaturedHeadlines.com) – President Joe Biden authorized a US-led coalition airstrike on Houthi rebel targets in Yemen on Thursday, January 11th, marking a significant escalation in the conflict triggered by Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The strikes, coordinated with the UK and supported by Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, targeted radar systems, air defense systems, and storage sites for drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles used by the Houthis.

In a statement on Whitehouse.gov, the president revealed that at his discretion, US forces, alongside a coalition of other nations, had “successfully conducted strikes” in Yemen, hitting sites used by “Houthi rebels to endanger freedom of navigation” in one of the most crucial trade routes on the globe. He emphasized that the strikes were a direct response to “reckless” Houthi assaults, including the first-ever deployment of anti-ship ballistic missiles.

The statement concluded with a stark warning from the president that he would “not hesitate to direct further measures” to protect commerce and innocent people.

Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) applauded the strikes as “overdue,” criticizing the Biden administration’s earlier reversal of President Trump’s designation of the Houthis as terrorists. Cotton argued that appeasing Iran emboldened its proxies, questioning the strikes’ effectiveness without addressing Iran’s role.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the operation, detailing targets aimed at degrading the Houthis’ ability to attack US and international vessels. Army General Michael Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM commander, held the Houthis and “their destabilizing Iranian sponsors” accountable for the attacks, warning that “illegal and dangerous actions will not be tolerated.”

The decision follows months of escalating tensions. Since October 2023, the Houthis, allegedly in solidarity with Palestinians, launched 27 attacks on ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, using missiles, drones, and hijackings. These attacks disrupted shipping routes, increased costs, and endangered mariners from 55 nations, including the US.

The Biden administration had attempted to de-escalate the regional conflict but faced mounting pressure to act against the Houthis. Prior to the strikes, US forces shot down Houthi missiles and drones but refrained from direct offensive action. However, a recent Houthi attack on US Navy helicopters marked a turning point, leading to retaliatory strikes that sank three Houthi boats.

CENTCOM emphasized that the operation wasn’t linked to ongoing efforts of the “Operation Prosperity Guardian” coalition but aimed to disrupt the Houthis’ maritime assault capabilities.

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