How a series of Red Sea attacks triggered a year of international military operations
In short: Between January 2024 and May 2025, the United States and the United Kingdom led a coalition in a sustained campaign of airstrikes against the Houthi movement in Yemen. This military response followed months of Houthi attacks on commercial shipping, which disrupted global trade routes through the vital Bab el-Mandeb strait.
The conflict escalated in October 2023, when the Iran-backed Houthi movement began targeting vessels in the Red Sea, citing support for Palestinians during the Gaza war. While initially claiming to target ships linked to Israel, the Houthis soon expanded their operations to include indiscriminate attacks on various commercial vessels. By December 2023, the Port of Eilat in Israel had experienced an 85% decline in activity, and major shipping companies began diverting their container fleets away from the region to avoid the risk of missile and drone strikes.
This campaign involved hundreds of precision-guided airstrikes and cruise missile launches targeting Houthi infrastructure, including radar sites, drone facilities, and weapons storage depots. American officials stated the objective was to degrade Houthi capabilities rather than target specific leadership. By January 2025, the Houthis reported over 900 strikes, resulting in 106 deaths and 314 injuries. The military engagement saw a temporary pause during the Gaza war ceasefire in early 2025.
Following the ceasefire, a second phase of operations, codenamed Operation Rough Rider, commenced in March 2025 under the administration of US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. By the end of April 2025, the coalition had conducted over 1,000 airstrikes. The conflict finally concluded on 6 May 2025, when a ceasefire between the United States and the Houthis was brokered by Oman. This period of intense maritime tension highlighted the vulnerability of global shipping lanes and the complex geopolitical dynamics involving regional actors and international naval powers.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: US–UK airstrikes on Yemen
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