Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed Australia provided support to the United States and United Kingdom in retaliatory strikes against the Houthi movement in Yemen.
“In response to continued illegal, dangerous, and destabilising Houthi attacks against vessels, including commercial shipping, transiting the Red Sea, the armed forces of the United States and United Kingdom, with support from the Netherlands, Canada, Bahrain, and Australia, conducted joint strikes in accordance with the inherent right of individual and collective self-defence, consistent with the UN Charter, against a number of targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen,” Albanese said in a joint statement with the governments of nine other countries.
In the statement, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, the UK and US referred to the broad consensus expressed by 44 countries on December 19, 2023, condemning Houthi attacks against merchant and commercial vessels travelling in the Red Sea.
The statement continued:
The Houthis’ more than two dozen attacks on commercial vessels since mid-November constitute an international challenge. Today’s action demonstrated a shared commitment to freedom of navigation, international commerce, and defending the lives of mariners from illegal and unjustifiable attacks.
Our aim remains to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea, but let our message be clear:
We will not hesitate to defend lives and protect the free flow of commerce in one of the world’s most critical waterways in the face of continued threats.
The countries also cited their previous joint statement, issued on January 3, calling for the immediate end of illegal attacks, a statement by the UN Security Council and its resolution condemning the attacks.