Britain’s military launched airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen on Tuesday with US forces, its defense ministry said – the first public acknowledgment of a joint operation since the Trump administration escalated the US campaign against the militant group.

The British military launched airstrikes with the United States targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The strikes Tuesday night marked their first involvement with America’s new intense campaign targeting the Iranian-backed group.

The United States intensified strikes on Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis this year to stop attacks on Red Sea shipping, but rights activists have raised concerns over civilian casualties.