Hour-by-hour mission plan reveals how RAF Typhoons shelled Houthi targets, including in a daring 10-hour, 2,500-mile attack
British RAF Typhoon jets destroyed Houthi bases during a carefully planned overnight blitz through Britain and the US on Monday.
The complex military aircraft was used alongside American fighter jets and submarines bomb the rebels near Yemen capital Sanaa in a 10-hour, 2,500-kilometer attack.
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The expertly planned operation saw the plane take off Cyprus to Yemen and back within hours, refueling in mid-air while shelling the targets.
Incredible footage filmed at the moment the bombs fell hit shows the four Typhoon jets unleashed on the eight Houthi sites after refusing to stop their terrifying attacks on ships in the Red Sea.
A clip shared on social media shows when several explosions occur, as the explosions can be seen as glowing amber flashes of light in the distance.
The bombs erupt as they light up the sky sky through Sanaa in a chilling manner as clouds of smoke quickly form.
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In another series of images, the bombs' precise lasers are seen zeroing in on their targets before loud, crackling explosions go off.
Timeline of RAF attacks
About the pre-planned operation, four RAF Typhoon jets took off from RAF Akrotiri next to two Voyager aircraft helping to refuel the jets.
They took off from the base in Cyprus on Monday evening around 5pm and remained in the air for several hours en route to Sanaa, Yemen.
US defense officials said Tomahawk missiles launched by warships and submarines were also sent alongside the RAF jets.
Due to the long journey, the 1,200-mph jets had to refuel mid-flight using Voyager before their long-range fuel tanks could complete the rest of the mission.
By 9 p.m., the jets had reached their ideal position, five to fifteen kilometers away from the eight chosen Houthi targets.
From here, a series of devastating Paveway IV laser-guided bombs were dropped on the rebels, while huge explosions were seen all over Yemen's capital.
The jets will likely hover 35-40,000 feet above sea level as they release the bombs and shoot them horizontally at the chosen targets.
After the expert team set off the explosions, the six planes took off back to Cyprus, flying over the Red Sea.
After a second refueling on the return route, they landed back at the Akrotiri base around 3 a.m.
Reactions to the blitz
Houthi rebels warned Britain and the US to expect retaliation after the second blitz.
Military spokesman Yahya Saree said: “These attacks will not go unanswered and unpunished.”
The strikes were another dramatic escalation in the crisis that has been threatening to unleash all-out war across the world for weeks Middle East above that of Israel continued struggle with Hamas.
The Pentagon said Monday's attack by united Western powers hit several Houthi bases, including an underground bunker.
An American official said this CBS The attacks had a “good impact” on targets believed to be in the capital Sanaa, the al-Dailami military base, near the city of Taizz, and Bayda province.
That of Great Britain Department of Defense said the four RAF Typhoon jets were joined by two Voyager tankers and US forces, which hit Houthi targets at two military sites near Sanaa airport.
These were reportedly warehouses and launchers for Houthi missiles, both of which were crucial to the group's offensive and surveillance capabilities.
Speaking to Parliament today, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “We must end the illegal sale of weapons to the Houthi militia.
“We are going to use the most effective tools at our disposal to cut off financial flows to the Houthis. We will keep a close eye on all other tools at our disposal.”
Opposition Leader Keir Starmer backed Sunak's decision to use further force against the Houthi rebels.
He said: “We support this targeted action to strengthen maritime security in the Red Sea. We must stand united and strong.”
Rishi Sunak's official spokesman said the “attacks have further damaged the Houthis' ability to attack civilian and military vessels, endangering lives and disrupting trade in the Red Sea.”
Before we label the strikes as 'effective'.
We will not hesitate to act in self-defense to protect British lives and interests
Rishi Sunak's official spokesperson
The spokesperson continued: “The Prime Minister said we have taken this action, together with our allies, as we continue to see a continued and imminent threat to British shipping and those of our partners, with the Houthis launching around a dozen attacks on shipping. in the Red Sea over the past ten days.
“While we do not seek confrontation, we will not hesitate to act in self-defense to protect British lives and interests.”
Downing Street said there will be a “general debate” for all MPs on Wednesday about the military intervention.
This was the second series of blitz attacks on Houthi rebel bases after the first carefully planned operation started earlier this month.
On January 11, Western forces led by Britain and the US arrived a total of 60 military targets destroyed under the cover of darkness, weakening the Iranian-backed terror proxy in Yemen.
Laser guided Tomahawk missiles and Paveway bombs, 2000 km/h fighter jets, Reaper drones and destroyers were used alongside the RAF aircraft.
It was the first time strikes were launched against the Houthis after months brutal attacks on the Red Sea.
The Ministry of Defense released this yesterday dramatic photos of the RAF Typhoons used to carry out precision strikes on two important military targets of the Houthis.
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