• UK military launches air strikes alongside US targeting Houthi drone facilities.
• Strikes aimed to degrade Houthi capabilities amid ongoing threats to shipping in the Red Sea.
• This operation marks the first UK involvement under the Trump administration.
• The joint campaign follows recent escalations by the Houthis against shipping linked to Israel.
• Concerns over civilian casualties continue amidst repeated attacks on Houthi sites.

The United Kingdom's military has conducted its first air strikes with the United States under President Donald Trump's administration, targeting Houthi rebels in Yemen. This operation, carried out on Tuesday, aimed at drone manufacturing sites responsible for attacks on maritime shipping and was stated to be part of a renewed military campaign following "Operation Rough Rider" launched by the U.S. Central Command in March 2025, which has conducted over 800 strikes against the Houthis since then, according to SCMP, Channel News Asia, Reuters, and Al Jazeera.

The air strikes were reported to have struck a cluster of buildings located approximately 15 miles south of Yemen's capital, Sanaa, identified by the UK’s Ministry of Defence as sites related to Houthi drone manufacturing. Military aircraft included RAF Typhoon fighter jets armed with precision-guided bombs. The Ministry emphasized that the mission was conducted after dark to minimize civilian risk, highlighting the careful planning behind the operation, as stated in BBC, Newsweek, and New York Times.

The ongoing military operation responds to a significant escalation in Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, which have increased since November 2023. The Houthis have justified their actions as solidarity with Palestinians amidst the Gaza conflict, claiming to target vessels linked to Israel, while US and UK forces emphasize the need to ensure freedom of navigation as stated by UK Defence Secretary John Healey. However, rights advocates have raised alarm over potential civilian casualties resulting from the strikes, following reports of a recent US air strike on a migrant detention center that resulted in numerous casualties, according to SCMP, Channel News Asia, and Al Jazeera.