United States and British militaries launched strikes on sites used by the Iran-backed Houthi rebel group in Yemen in retaliation for their attacks on ships in the Red Sea. The Houthis say their attacks are aimed at stopping Israel’s war on Hamas, but their targets increasingly have little or no connection to Israel and imperil a crucial trade route linking Asia and the Middle East with Europe. Here are some of the global reactions:
Quick Read
- Russia Condemns Strikes: Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the strikes illegitimate under international law and criticized the use of a U.N. resolution to justify them.
- Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak: Described the strikes as “proportionate and targeted,” aimed at disrupting Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.
- Hamas Condemnation: Hamas condemned the strikes as a crime and aggression against Yemeni sovereignty.
- Iran’s Foreign Ministry: Stated the attacks violate Yemen’s sovereignty and contribute to regional instability.
- Iran-backed Hezbollah Group: Criticized the U.S. for partnering in the region’s tragedies and massacres.
- Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry: Urged restraint and avoidance of escalation, emphasizing the importance of Red Sea security.
- Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte: Supported the strikes, highlighting their focus on de-escalation and protection of free passage.
- Germany’s Support: German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock backed the strikes and called for an immediate halt to Houthi attacks.
- France’s Condemnation: Condemned Houthi attacks and supported actions to ensure maritime security in the Red Sea.
- Norway and Sweden’s Stance: Called for an end to attacks in the Red Sea to prevent further conflict spread.
- U.S. Congressional Reactions: Varied responses from U.S. senators and representatives, with some supporting and others questioning the strikes and emphasizing the need for Congressional authorization.
- U.S. Senator Susan Collins: Highlighted the necessity of deterring attacks on U.S. troops and restoring freedom of navigation.
- U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell: Welcomed the operations against Houthi terrorists, urging a shift in the Biden Administration’s approach to Iran and its proxies.
- U.S. Representative Ro Khanna and Others: Expressed concerns about U.S. involvement in another Middle East conflict without Congressional authorization.
Reuters has the story:
Reactions to US, British strikes against Houthis in Yemen
RUSSIA CONDEMNS STRIKES ON HOUTHI REBEL POSITIONS
MOSCOW — The Kremlin on Friday condemned the U.S.-led strikes on Houthi rebel positions in Yemen, calling them “illegitimate from the point of view of international law.”
“The countries that struck, they tried to put their actions on the basis of international law,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters, referring to a U.N. resolution adopted earlier this week that demanded an immediate halt to attacks by the Houthi rebels on ships in the Red Sea. “This attempt was unsuccessful, because the adopted resolution does not provide any right to strike,” Peskov said.
However, he described the rebels’ attacks on ships in the Red Sea as “extremely wrong” and added that Russia “repeatedly called on the Houthis to abandon this practice.”
“The U.S. air strikes on Yemen are another example of the Anglo-Saxons’ perversion of UN Security Council resolutions.”
Zakharova said the strikes showed a “complete disregard for international law” and were “escalating the situation in the region”. Russia also called for an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Friday to discuss the issue.
BRITAIN’S SUNAK SAYS ATTACKS ON HOUTHI REBELS WERE ‘PROPORTIONATE AND TARGETED’
KYIV, Ukraine — British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said attacks by Houthi rebels could not continue with impunity and that overnight strikes by the U.S. and Britain should “degrade and disrupt” their ability to endanger shipping through the Red Sea.
“Over the last month, we’ve seen a significant increase in the number of Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea,” he said while on a visit to Ukraine. “That’s putting innocent lives at risk, it’s disrupting the global economy and it’s also destabilizing the region.”
He said this “type of behavior can’t carry on” and reiterated his view that the strikes, which involved British Typhoon jets flying from a British base in Cyprus, were “proportionate and targeted.”
Sunak said initial indications are that the strikes were successful.
“People can’t act like this with impunity and that’s why together with allies we’ve decided to take this action,” he added.
He said he will make a statement to Parliament about the strikes on Monday.
HAMAS CONDEMNS STRIKES ON HOUTHI TARGETS
CAIRO — Hamas has condemned U.S.-led strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, saying Washington and London are responsible for any repercussions in the wider region.
“We consider it (the attack) a crime and a blatant aggression against Yemeni sovereignty, and a threat to the security of the region,” the Palestinian militant group said in a statement on Telegram.
Hamas and the Houthi rebels are allies, brought together by a common enemy, Israel, and backed by a common sponsor, Iran.
The Houthis have launched at least 27 attacks against commercial shipping since the war between Israel and Hamas erupted on Oct. 7. The group says the attacks are in response to the war in Gaza but many of the ships targeted have no connection to Israel.
IRAN’S FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN NASSER KANNANI:
“These attacks are a clear violation of Yemen’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a breach of international laws.
These attacks will only contribute to insecurity and instability in the region.”
IRAN-BACKED HEZBOLLAH GROUP IN A STATEMENT:
“The American aggression confirms once again that the U.S. is a full partner in the tragedies and massacres committed by the Zionist enemy in Gaza and the region.”
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SAUDI ARABIA’S FOREIGN MINISTRY IN A STATEMENT:
Called for restraint and “avoiding escalation” after the strikes and said it was monitoring the situation with “great concern”.
“The kingdom emphasizes the importance of maintaining the security and stability of the Red Sea region, as the freedom of navigation in it is an international demand.”
DUTCH PRIME MINISTER MARK RUTTE
“The U.S.-British action is based on the right of self-defence, aims to protect free passage and is focused on de-escalation. The Netherlands, with its long history as a sea-faring country, places significant importance on the right of free passage and supports this targeted operation.”
GERMANY BACKS US-LED STRIKES ON HOUTHI REBELS
BERLIN — German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Friday that Germany backs the United States-led strikes on Houthi targets in the Red Sea.
“The reaction has our political support,” Baerbock said from Kuala Lumpur after a meeting with Malaysia’s Foreign Minister, Mohamad Hasan, according to the news agency dpa.
She criticized the Houthis for “contributing to the destabilization of an already tense regional situation” with their attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea, calling on the group to “stop these attacks immediately.”
Baerbock said German and European Union leaders are working to quickly determine “how we ourselves can strengthen stabilization in the Red Sea and can contribute to this stabilization.”
NETHERLANDS SUPPORTS STRIKES ON HOUTHI REBELS
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Caretaker Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said his country supports the U.S. and British military strikes on Houthi rebels who have targeted shipping in the Red Sea.
“The Houthi attacks are a clear violation of international law and pose a threat to maritime personnel and trade flows. The US-British action is based on the right of self-defense, aims to protect free passage and is focused on de-escalation,” Rutte said in a message on X, formerly Twitter.
“The Netherlands, with its long history as a sea-faring country, places significant importance on the right of free passage and supports this targeted operation,” he said.
FRANCE CONDEMNS HOUTHI ATTACKS ON VESSELS IN THE RED SEA
PARIS — France condemned Houthi attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and demanded an immediate halt Friday. France has warships in the region that protect commercial vessels and are working with American and British partners.
“Through these armed actions, the Houthis bear an extremely heavy responsibility for regional escalation,” the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement. It noted that this week’s United Nations resolution gives countries “the right to react to these attacks.”
“France will continue to assume its responsibilities and contribute to maritime security in this zone in conjunction with its partners,” it said.
NORWAY AND SWEDEN CALL FOR AN END TO ATTACKS IN THE RED SEA BEFORE CONFLICT SPREADS FURTHER
COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide described the situation in the Mideast as “a low-intensity conflict” that was “now spreading to neighboring countries.”
“The basic conflict is the one we see in Gaza and in the Middle East itself. We must do everything we can to solve it,” Barth Eide said. “At the same time, it is not acceptable that there are regular attacks on shipping through the Red Sea.”
His Swedish colleague Tobias Billström said in a statement to the Swedish news agency TT that the responsibility for the situation “lies with the Houthis. Their attacks in the Red Sea must stop.”
U.S. SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS, REPUBLICAN, MAINE
“Iran and its proxies must understand that repeated attacks on U.S. troops and the disruption of critical sea lanes will not be tolerated.
“The United States does not seek an escalation of violence in the region, but we must deter attacks on our troops, and the freedom of navigation that is essential for global trade must be restored.”
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE GREGORY MEEKS, DEMOCRAT, NEW YORK
“While I support these targeted, proportional military strikes, I call on the Biden Administration to continue its diplomatic efforts to avoid escalation to a broader regional war and continue to engage Congress on the details of its strategy and legal basis as required by law.”
U.S. SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER MITCH MCCONNELL
“I welcome the U.S. and coalition operations against the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists responsible for violently disrupting international commerce in the Red Sea and attacking American vessels. President Biden’s decision to use military force against these Iranian proxies is overdue. I am hopeful these operations mark an enduring shift in the Biden Administration’s approach to Iran and its proxies.”
U.S. SENATOR ROGER WICKER, REPUBLICAN, MISSISSIPPI
“This strike was two months overdue, but it is a good first step toward restoring deterrence in the Red Sea.
“It is time to dispense with the hollow talk of ‘joint resolutions’ and ‘maritime task forces.’ This strike should be a warning to the Houthis and other Iranian proxies that they will suffer catastrophic consequences from escalation in the region.”
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE RO KHANNA, DEMOCRAT, CALIFORNIA
“The President needs to come to Congress before launching a strike against the Houthis in Yemen and involving us in another Middle East conflict. That is Article I of the Constitution. I will stand up for that regardless of whether a Democrat or Republican is in the White House.”
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE VAL HOYLE, DEMOCRAT, OREGON
“These airstrikes have not been authorized by Congress. The Constitution is clear: Congress has the sole authority to authorize military involvement in overseas conflicts. Every president must first come to Congress and ask for military authorization, regardless of party.”
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE JASON CROW, DEMOCRAT, COLORADO
“I would not support us being pulled into a broader war.”
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE MARK POCAN, DEMOCRAT, WISCONSIN
“The United States cannot risk getting entangled into another decades-long conflict without Congressional authorization. The White House must work with Congress before continuing these airstrikes in Yemen.”
