US–UK airstrikes on Yemen

US–UK airstrikes on Yemen
Part of the Operation Prosperity Guardian, Red Sea crisis and the Yemeni civil war

Location of airstrikes in Houthi-controlled territory (green) in Yemen on 12 January 2024
DateFirst phase:
12 January 2024 – 17 January 2025
(1 year and 5 days)
Second phase:
15 March 2025 – 6 May 2025
(1 month and 3 weeks)
Location
Houthi-held Yemen (shown in green in the map above)
Result

Inconclusive

Belligerents
 United States
 United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Units involved
Strength
Unknown
Casualties and losses
Five MQ-9 Reaper shot down 106 killed
314 injured

Since 12 January 2024, the United States and the United Kingdom, with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, have launched a series of cruise missile and airstrikes, codenamed Operation Poseidon Archer, against the Houthi movement in Yemen in response to Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea. The Houthis had previously declared that their attacks are in support of Palestinians during the Gaza war; Houthi attacks on shipping were condemned by the United Nations Security Council the day before the initial strike.

US President Joe Biden ordered the strikes, and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak convened his cabinet to authorize British participation. American officials said the strikes were intended to degrade Houthi capabilities to attack Red Sea targets rather than to kill leaders and Iranian trainers.

By 2 January 2025, the Houthis recorded 931 American and British airstrikes against its sites in Yemen, resulting in 106 deaths and 314 injuries. The strikes were halted after the 2025 Gaza war ceasefire, but were resumed and intensified by US President Donald Trump on 15 March under the code name Operation Rough Rider, with over 1,000 airstrikes having been conducted by the end of April.

On May 6, President Donald Trump declared the strikes to be over, "effective immediately," as a result of a ceasefire between the U.S. and the Houthis, brokered by Oman.