US and UK strike Houthi sites in Yemen amid surge in Red Sea attacks on ships

An aircraft launching from USS Dwight D Eisenhower during flight operations in the Red Sea (Kaitlin Watt/US Navy via AP)

The US and Britain have struck 18 Houthi targets in Yemen in response to a recent surge in attacks by the Iran-backed militia group on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, including a missile strike this past week that set fire to a cargo vessel.

American and British fighter jets hit sites in eight locations, targeting missiles, launchers, rockets, drones and air defence systems, according to US officials.