US warships, aircraft launch attack on Yemen's Houthis

Yemen is among the countries that Israel has also been attacking, in addition to Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and Iran.

The US military has launched strikes on 15 targets in Yemen, primarily against the Iranian-backed Houthi group.

According to the US, these strikes, involving both warships and aircraft, were carried out to "protect freedom of navigation" in the Red Sea, following increased Houthi attacks on vessels in the region.

The Houthis have targeted around 100 ships since November whereby the resistance group claims these retaliatory strikes are against Israel's military invasion in Gaza.

US officials said that many of the vessels targeted have no connection to the ongoing conflict.

The Pentagon said these recent airstrikes aimed to degrade the Houthis' offensive military capabilities, hitting weapon systems, bases, and other critical infrastructure.

Houthis launched a retaliatory strike on US Navy ships in the Red Sea, using drones and cruise missiles but those were intercepted by US vessels.

In July, the group launched a retaliatory drone strike that struck Tel Aviv, killing one person and injuring 10.

They have also launched multiple missiles at Israel, including one targeting its main airport.

The US-led strikes on Friday expanded the scope of military action beyond the Houthis' launch sites, targeting broader Houthi infrastructure in an effort to reduce their capacity to carry out future attacks.

The Houthis are part of a network of armed groups across the Middle East backed by Iran, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza.

US Central Command claim the attacks were also intended to ensure the safety of international shipping lanes, which have come under increased threat due to the Houthis' operations.

This comes after the US, UK, and 12 other nations initiated Operation Prosperity Guardian earlier this year, a joint effort to safeguard Red Sea shipping routes from Houthi threats.

The ongoing conflict in Yemen has drawn heightened international attention due to the Houthis' increasing involvement in broader regional hostilities.

The Houthi group has retaliated against US and Israeli vessels.

Israel has conducted airstrikes in Yemen, escalating tensions in the already volatile region.

The attacks in Yemen, coupled with Israel's ongoing war with Hamas and clashes with Hezbollah in Lebanon, raise concerns that the conflict could spiral further, potentially drawing in more regional and global powers.

As the situation develops, the international community remains on high alert, with diplomatic efforts ongoing to prevent a full-scale escalation in the Middle East.

However, the continued Houthi attacks and the subsequent US military response indicate that tensions in the Red Sea and surrounding areas are far from abating.