British forces have conducted airstrikes against a Houthi military facility in Yemen, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed, marking the UK’s first direct involvement in the U.S.-led Operation Rough Rider targeting the Iran-backed group. Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon FGR4 fighter jets, in coordination with U.S. forces, targeted a drone manufacturing facility near Yemen’s capital, Sanaa. The site was believed to be producing drones used in recent months to attack commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. According to the MoD, several Typhoons deployed Paveway IV precision-guided
British forces have conducted airstrikes against a Houthi military facility in Yemen, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed, marking the UK’s first direct involvement in the U.S.-led Operation Rough Rider targeting the Iran-backed group. Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon FGR4 fighter jets, in coordination with U.S. forces, targeted a drone manufacturing facility near Yemen’s capital, Sanaa. The site was believed to be producing drones used in recent months to attack commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. According to the MoD, several Typhoons deployed Paveway IV precision-guided bombs to strike a cluster of buildings used in drone production. The strike was carefully planned to minimize risks to civilians and surrounding infrastructure, with operations taking place overnight to further reduce the presence of non-combatants. Defence Secretary John Healey said the mission aimed to "degrade Houthi capabilities and prevent further attacks against UK and international shipping." He added that all UK personnel and aircraft returned safely to base. “This government will always act to defend our national and economic security,” Healey stated. “The Houthis’ activities in the Red Sea remain a persistent threat to freedom of navigation.”
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He highlighted the economic toll of the disruption, noting that a 55% drop in shipping through the Red Sea has already cost billions and heightened regional instability, affecting economic security for families in the UK. Operation Rough Rider, launched by the U.S., is part of an intensified campaign to target Houthi infrastructure while American officials continue nuclear negotiations with Iran, the group's primary backer. While the UK has previously participated in joint strikes against the Houthis, this marked its first contribution to the current heightened offensive. The U.S. has not officially commented on this latest joint operation, nor have details of casualties or damage been released.
Two RAF Typhoon FGR4 aircraft operating at night from their base in the Mediterranean. Source: DailyMail
The U.S. military’s Central Command has carried out over 1,000 strikes in Yemen since mid-March, often launching operations from two aircraft carriers stationed in the region — the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea and the USS Carl Vinson in the Arabian Sea. The latest joint strike follows reports of a controversial U.S. airstrike that allegedly hit a prison facility housing African migrants, killing at least 68 and injuring 47. Another American strike on April 18 targeted the Ras Isa fuel port, resulting in at least 74 deaths and over 170 injuries — the deadliest attack reported so far in this campaign. Despite Houthi claims that their attacks are in retaliation for Israel’s war in Gaza, the UK and its allies have dismissed this justification.
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