President Joe Biden issued a written statement Thursday after ordering attacks on Iranian-backed Houthi rebels for a third straight day without making a public appearance.
Despite the warnings, the Houthis continued to carry out at least 27 drone and missile attacks on commercial ships sailing between the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, the military said Thursday. On Biden's orders, the US and UK launched retaliatory strikes against Yemen-based groups on Thursday night in response to the Houthi invasion.The attack sends a “clear message” that the United States and its allies will not tolerate attacks that threaten the freedom of merchant shipping in the Red Sea, Biden said in a written statement. read. (Related: Shipping giant suspends Red Sea trade even as US Navy defends against Houthi attack)
“Today's defensive actions come in the wake of this massive diplomatic campaign and escalation of attacks by Houthi rebels against commercial vessels,” Biden said. “These targeted attacks demonstrate that the United States and our partners will not tolerate attacks on American personnel or allow adversaries to jeopardize freedom of navigation in one of the world's most important commercial shipping lanes. It's a clear message.”
“I will not hesitate to direct further action as necessary to protect our people and the freedom of international commerce,” Biden continued.
Moments ago: Biden releases statement on US attack on Houthis.
It was rumored that the President would speak tonight, but just before 6pm the lid was lifted indicating that no further news would be released from the WH.
Biden has not held any public events since Monday.@DailyCaller pic.twitter.com/8kmfMmRz8R
— Reagan Reese (@reaganreese_) January 12, 2024
The US and UK, along with Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands, have struck “numerous targets” in Yemen as part of strikes ordered by President Biden. The countries used fighter jets, ships and submarines to fire Tomahawk missiles and attack various locations of Houthi drone storage and launch facilities, U.S. and British officials said. Said CNN.
“These attacks are a direct response to the unprecedented Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea, including the first-ever use of anti-ship ballistic missiles,” Biden said.
The president's statement did not mention Iran, which supports the Houthis.
At the time of his written statement, Biden had not been seen in public since Monday. Biden has not yet commented privately on the breakdown in communication between the White House and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, who did not notify the president of his hospitalization for several days.
planning by @Maersk Reopening Red Sea shipping lanes disrupted by Houthi attack on Maersk Hangzhou and deadly consequences. Gunvor Maersk, Maersk Tukang, Ebba Maersk, Maersk Londrina, Maersk Yuta, Maersk Genoa, Gjertrud Maersk, where we are suspending or re-adjusting our voyages. pic.twitter.com/XqGwiFpPWZ
— Michel Wiese Bockmann (@Michellewb_) January 1, 2024
Biden has not made any public appearances at the White House in 2024, but he has spent the first few days of 2024 visiting four different states for various campaign events.
Asked about Biden's lack of public appearances, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre touted a campaign event Biden attended in 2024.
“President Biden has not held any events at the White House in the new year and has been kept out of public view for three full days. Why?” Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy asked.
“The president took a three-day vacation in the New Year and visited four states,” Jean-Pierre said. “He actually just went there recently. [Valley Forge] In Pennsylvania, he defended our democracy by making some very influential and important statements about our democracy on the eve of January 6th. What we saw in 2021 on January 6th was an attack on our democracy, and he went out there and spoke to the American people. It was very popular, so we would like to continue doing it in the future. ”
