British and American forces carried out airstrikes on Yemen’s Houthi rebels, officials said early Wednesday. This marks the first time the British military has joined the United States in its ongoing, intensified campaign against the Iran-backed group.

Unlike the U.S., which has given little information about the more than 800 strikes since the campaign began on March 15, the United Kingdom clearly explained why it decided to launch its strike. The campaign, named Operation Rough Rider, has been focusing on targeting the rebels while the Trump administration is in talks with their main supporter, Iran, about its rapidly progressing nuclear program.

According to the UK's Defence Ministry, the site that was attacked was a group of buildings about 25 kilometres south of Sanaa, used by the Houthis to make drones similar to those used in attacks on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4 jets took part in the airstrike, using Paveway IV guided bombs, according to the Ministry of Defence.

The strike happened at night, a time chosen to reduce the chances of civilians being in the area, the ministry explained. The UK did not share details about the damage caused or if anyone was killed in the strike. The US military’s Central Command has not confirmed or commented on the action. UK Defence Secretary John Healey said the strike was a response to ongoing threats from the Houthis against safe shipping routes. He added that a 55% drop in shipping through the Red Sea has already caused billions in losses, increasing instability in the region and putting the UK’s economic security at risk. The Houthis reported multiple airstrikes near Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, which they have controlled since 2014. Other strikes also hit areas around Saada. Britain has joined the United States in carrying out airstrikes since the Biden administration started targeting the Houthis in January 2024. However, this latest strike is the first time the British have been involved in the campaign under Trump. A joint UK-US strike was launched after a reported US airstrike on Monday hit a prison holding African migrants, killing at least 68 people and injuring 47 others. 

The US military has said it is looking into the incident. Earlier, on April 18, a US strike on the Ras Isa fuel port resulted in the deaths of at least 74 people and left 171 injured, making it the deadliest known attack in the US campaign so far. The US is carrying out airstrikes in Yemen using two aircraft carriers in the region — the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea and the USS Carl Vinson in the Arabian Sea. These strikes are aimed at the Houthis, who have been attacking ships in the Red Sea — an important global trade route — and launching attacks on Israel. The Houthis are the last remaining militant group in Iran's so-called "Axis of Resistance" still actively targeting Israel. The strikes have caused controversy in America because Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth used the unclassified Signal messaging app to share sensitive information about the attacks.