Potential Houthi Retaliation; U.S. Warns Ships to Avoid Parts of the Red Sea

On Friday, the U.S. Navy warned American-flagged vessels to steer clear of areas around Yemen in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden for the next 72 hours. This warning follows airstrikes by the U.S. and Britain against Houthi positions and the group's vow of retaliation. According to the Associated Press, this warning comes as the Houthis pledged a severe response to U.S.-led attacks, raising the prospect of a broader conflict in a region already aflame with the Israel-Gaza war. The U.S. stated that these strikes targeted Houthi positions in 28 different locations across areas under their control in Yemen. While U.S. military and White House officials expect the Houthis to attempt retaliatory attacks, President Joe Biden warned that the group may face further assaults. The Houthis claimed that the U.S.-led bombing, which began in response to their recent drone and missile attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, killed at least five and injured six. Concurrently, Biden, while stopping in Pennsylvania, labeled the Houthis as terrorists and stated, 'If the Houthis continue this cruel behavior towards our allies, we will respond.' Following the Houthis' disregard for U.S. and British warnings and a UN Security Council resolution, U.S. and British defense forces targeted this Iran-backed group in Yemen in a joint operation early Friday morning Middle Eastern time. Reports indicate that the cities of Sana'a, Al Hudaydah, Saada, and Dhamar were struck. In response to these operations, Yahya Saree, the Houthi military spokesman, stated in a pre-recorded speech that these attacks 'will not go unanswered or unpunished.' Biden remarked that the Islamic Republic avoids conflict with the U.S., and that the U.S. is not seeking a proxy war with Iran. A review of reactions to the U.S. and British attacks on Houthi positions in Yemen indicates that the British Maritime Security Organization stated the Houthis mistakenly targeted a tanker carrying Russian oil. Major shipping companies welcomed the U.S. and British attacks on the Houthis, leading tankers to change their routes. Biden confirmed the attack on Houthi positions in Yemen, stating that the international community's response to this group was 'united and decisive.' The Houthis claim that 11 militants were killed and injured in the U.S. and British attacks.