US and Britain strike 18 Houthi sites in Yemen

Bid to smash group’s ability to hit shipping

- Mark Reynolds

BRITISH and US fighter planes carried out air strikes on 18 Houthi sites in Yemen this weekend.

It was the fourth joint operation and more are expected in future due to ongoing attacks on Red Sea shipping.

Explaining the action, Britain's Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: "It is our duty to protect lives at sea and preserve freedom of navigation.

"That is why the Royal Air Force engaged in a fourth wave of strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen."

The allies revealed the "necessary and proportionate strikes" hit 18 sites across eight locations.

They said the targets were linked to Houthi underground weapons and missile storage, one-way attack unmanned aerial systems, air defence systems, radars and a helicopter.