An Australian air base was used as a staging post for US air strikes carried out on underground weapons storage facilities in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, it has been revealed.
Australia’s involvement in the October 17 strikes, which used B-2 stealth bombers against the Iran-aligned group, was confirmed for the first time on Friday by Defence.
“Australia provided support for US strikes conducted on 17 October… targeting Houthi facilities in Yemen, through access and overflight for US aircraft in northern Australia,” a Defence spokesperson said.
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“Access” refers to permission to land and “overflight is “permission to fly through their airspace”.
“Australia is committed to supporting the US, and key partners, in disrupting Houthi capabilities used to threaten global trade and the lives of mariners in the Red Sea, a vital international waterway,” the spokesperson said.
“This support is consistent with our long-standing alliance commitment and close cooperation, demonstrating the interoperability of our militaries.
“Australia will continue to work with partners to deter actions that undermine global and regional security and stability.”
In wording that could also be interpreted as a signal to Iran, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said the strike was a unique demonstration of the Pentagon’s ability to strike hard-to-reach facilities “no matter how deeply buried underground, hardened, or fortified”.
“The employment of US Air Force B-2 Spirit long-range stealth bombers demonstrate US global strike capabilities to take action against these targets when necessary, anytime, anywhere,” Austin said in a statement.
A US defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed it was the first time a B-2 bomber was used against the Houthis.
Fears of a wider Middle East conflict have grown in the wake of Iran’s October 1 missile attack as Israel weighs retaliation and battles other Iran-backed groups, including Hamas in Gaza and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
Houthi fighters in Yemen have carried out nearly 100 attacks on ships crossing the Red Sea since November and say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in Israel’s year-long war in Gaza. They have sunk two vessels, seized another and killed at least four seafarers.
They have also fired on Israel, which has carried out strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.
The Biden administration has been acting mostly defensively against Houthi strikes in the Red Sea, usually moving to intercept drone and missile attacks against commercial vessels and US warships.
It has also struck Houthi military infrastructure but avoided broader targets in Yemen.
– With AAP