UK and US forces rain bombs on dozens of Iran-backed targets across Yemen (photos)

British and American forces rained bombs on Iran-backed rebels in Yemen last night using warships, fighter jets, and submarines.

According to Mail Online, the RAF launched targeted strikes against Houthi military facilities in response to a series of attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea.

Rishi Sunak insisted the move was in ‘self-defence’ and said the UK will ‘always stand up for freedom of navigation and the free flow of trade’.

President Biden also hailed the ‘successful’ blitz – which was aided by Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands and vowed more action if it was needed.

The Ministry of Defence said coalition forces identified key facilities involved in the rebels’ targeting of HMS Diamond and US Navy vessels on Tuesday ‘and agreed to conduct a carefully coordinated strike to reduce the Houthis’ capability to violate international law in this manner’.

Explosions were heard in the capital Sana’a and other major cities including Hodeida and Saada shortly before midnight, with US officials admitting they were expecting a response from rebels. 

More than a dozen sites were bombed by Western forces, in raids which included submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets.

The four RAF Typhoons used Paveway IV guided bombs to ‘conduct precision strikes’ on two targets that had been chosen to ‘reduce the Houthis’ capability to violate international law’. They were assisted by an RAF Voyager refuelling plane.

US defence secretary Lloyd Austin said the airstrikes also targeted sites associated with the Houthi’s unmanned drone, ballistic and cruise missile, coastal radar and air surveillance capabilities. 

Officials said the Houthi rebels, who have carried out a series of attacks in the Red Sea to disrupt shipping, had ignored a ‘final warning’ as Mr Sunak signed off on the raids during an emergency cabinet meeting last night.

Iran has been involved in ‘every phase’ of the Houthi attacks in recent months, a US official added.

The rebels’ official media said the capital Sana’a, Hodeida, and Saada were all targeted and blamed ‘American aggression with British participation’. 

Mr Sunak said in a statement: ‘Despite the repeated warnings from the international community, the Houthis have continued to carry out attacks in the Red Sea, including against UK and US warships just this week.

‘This cannot stand. The United Kingdom will always stand up for freedom of navigation and the free flow of trade.

‘The Royal Navy continues to patrol the Red Sea as part of the multinational Operation Prosperity Guardian to deter further Houthi aggression, and we urge them to cease their attacks and take steps to de-escalate.’ 

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps added: ‘The threat to innocent lives and global trade has become so great that this action was not only necessary, it was our duty to protect vessels & freedom of navigation.’

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 campaign of drone and missile attacks on commercial ships, which has been in progress since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, or face potential military action.