Anti-war activists in New York City, Washington protest US, UK strikes in Yemen

A small group of anti-war demonstrators gathered late on Thursday outside the White House and in Times Square, New York City, to express their disapproval of US and British attacks against Houthi military targets in Yemen, claiming that the action threatened to escalate the conflict in Gaza.

In reaction to Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea, which the movement claims is a show of solidarity for Palestinians under Israeli blockade in Hamas-ruled Gaza, the United States and Britain conducted air and naval operations.

Chanting phrases like “hands off Gaza,” “hands off Yemen,” and “hands off the Middle East,” protestors gathered in Times Square.

Palestinian flags were waved by the protesters outside the White House, and they held signs that said “Free Palestine” and “stop bombing Yemen.”

The US and its partners said in a joint statement that there was no intention to exacerbate tensions, but the attacks in Yemen are among the most spectacular examples of the Gaza War’s expansion since it broke out in October.

The majority of Yemen is under the control of the Houthis, an Iranian-backed group that has used drones and missiles to attack commercial cargo in the Red Sea, forcing merchants to alter their plans and take longer routes.

The Gaza conflict started after Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist organisation, attacked Israel on October 7. Israel claims that 1,200 people were killed in that attack.

Israel’s subsequent assault on Gaza has killed more than 23,000 Palestinians, about 1% of the 2.3 million population there, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

Thursday’s protests were organized by, among others, the coalition group ANSWER, an acronym for “Act Now to Stop War and End Racism.”

The group considers the strikes in Yemen a “major escalation” that could lead to a broad regional war, it said on the social media platform X.

The Gaza war has led to protests in many parts of the US, including near airports and bridges in New York City and Los Angeles, vigils outside the White House, and marches in Washington near the US Capitol.