Right here is President Biden’s full assertion on the strikes carried out in opposition to the Houthi militia in Yemen by america and allies, as launched by the White Home on Thursday:
At this time, at my path, U.S. army forces — along with the UK and with help from Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands — efficiently carried out strikes in opposition to a lot of targets in Yemen utilized by Houthi rebels to hazard freedom of navigation in one of many world’s most significant waterways.
These strikes are in direct response to unprecedented Houthi assaults in opposition to worldwide maritime vessels within the Pink Sea — together with using anti-ship ballistic missiles for the primary time in historical past. These assaults have endangered U.S. personnel, civilian mariners and our companions, jeopardized commerce and threatened freedom of navigation. Greater than 50 nations have been affected in 27 assaults on worldwide business delivery. Crews from greater than 20 international locations have been threatened or taken hostage in acts of piracy. Greater than 2,000 ships have been compelled to divert 1000’s of miles to keep away from the Pink Sea — which may trigger weeks of delays in product delivery instances. And on Jan. 9, Houthis launched their largest assault up to now — straight focusing on American ships.
The response of the worldwide neighborhood to those reckless assaults has been united and resolute. Final month, america launched Operation Prosperity Guardian — a coalition of greater than 20 nations dedicated to defending worldwide delivery and deterring Houthi assaults within the Pink Sea. We additionally joined greater than 40 nations in condemning Houthi threats. Final week, along with 13 allies and companions, we issued an unequivocal warning that Houthi rebels would bear the implications if their assaults didn’t stop. And yesterday, the United Nations Safety Council handed a decision demanding the Houthis finish assaults on service provider and business vessels.
At this time’s defensive motion follows this intensive diplomatic marketing campaign and Houthi rebels’ escalating assaults in opposition to business vessels. These focused strikes are a transparent message that america and our companions is not going to tolerate assaults on our personnel or enable hostile actors to imperil freedom of navigation in one of many world’s most crucial business routes. I cannot hesitate to direct additional measures to guard our individuals and the free circulation of worldwide commerce as mandatory.