Saudi Arabia voices 'great concern' over US airstrikes on Yemen

Saudi Arabia has expressed 'great concern' over the airstrikes conducted by the US and the US on Houthi sites in Yemen.

"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is following with great concern the military operations taking place in the Red Sea region and the air strikes on a number of sites in the Republic of Yemen," a statement by Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry said, calling for "self-restraint and avoiding escalation".

Amid the Houthi attacks that disrupted the global shipping services in the Red Sea, The US and British forces on January 11 bombed dozens of locations reportedly used by the armed group.

The US army officials said that they had hit the logistical hubs, air defense systems and weapons storage location of the rebel group.
This is first US attack on Houthi locations on land after the Yemeni rebels started targeting ships in the Red Sea.

US-led forces were so far conducting retaliatory strikes on Houthi ships.

The coordinated military assault comes just a week after the White House and a host of partner nations issued a final warning to the Houthis to cease the attacks or face potential military action.

President Joe Biden said Thursday that US and British forces had launched air strikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen in "defensive action" after attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.

In a statement, Biden said he "will not hesitate" to order further military action if needed.

The strikes involved fighter jets and Tomahawk missiles, several US media said. US officials did not immediately confirm the reports when contacted by AFP.

"Today, at my direction, US military forces -- together with the United Kingdom and with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands -— successfully conducted strikes against a number of targets in Yemen used by Houthi rebels to endanger freedom of navigation in one of the world's most vital waterways," Biden said.

Also watch: Red Sea attacks: US, British forces bomb multiple Houthi locations in Yemen

He called the strikes a "direct response" to "unprecedented" attacks by the Houthis, "including the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles for the first time in history."

"These attacks have endangered US personnel, civilian mariners, and our partners, jeopardized trade, and threatened freedom of navigation," he said, stressing that Washington and its allies "will not tolerate attacks on our personnel or allow hostile actors to imperil freedom of navigation."

"I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary."

The Houthis have carried out a growing number of attacks on the key international sea route since the Gaza war erupted with Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7.

(with AFP inputs)