US enters Yemen war, bombing Houthis who launched missiles at navy ship

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

The United States has launched its first strike on Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen in retaliation for days of attacks on a navy warship, becoming an active combatant in a brutal war led by Washington’s ally Saudi Arabia.

The Pentagon announced late on Wednesday that it struck and destroyed three radar sites controlled by the Iranian-backed Houthi movement in Yemen. The sites were described as being involved in two missile attacks over the past four days on the destroyer USS Mason, operating out of the Bab al-Mandeb waterway between Yemen and east Africa.

There was no immediate word on any casualties from the US attack on the radar sites, which the Pentagon noted came with the direct authorization of Barack Obama.

“These limited self-defense strikes were conducted to protect our personnel, our ships, and our freedom of navigation,” Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said.

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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/13/us-enters-yemen-war-bombing-houthis-who-launched-missiles-at-navy-ship

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Spencer Ackerman in New York
Thursday 13 October 2016 06.58 BST

[7962]

1. Good.

[cstanleytech]

2. They showed alot of restraint by limiting it to the radar bases. NT

[groundloop]

3. I hate to see us militarily involved, but this was the correct response to being attacked

I applaud Pres. Obama and his advisers for devising the proper plan in response to missiles being launched at our ships (and other ships as well).

[maxsolomon]

4. Turns out we've been in this war all along

providing mid-air refueling to SA planes over 5,000 times.

We should have been leaning on the brakes from the start. War destroys cultures and stability.

[rug]

7. It is not the first time the U.S. launched attacks into Yemen. It's already killed Yemenis.

While the US has conducted lethal attacks in Yemen against al-Qaida forces throughout Obama’s presidency, killing civilians as well as US nationals, Wednesday’s reprisal strikes were Washington’s first against the Houthis. They raised the prospect of deeper US involvement in what many in the region and Washington see as a proxy war between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

[GOLGO 13]

8. We have the right to self defense. Well done Mr. President.