US strikes Yemen after Huthis threaten Red Sea ships

The strike on a Huthi radar site comes a day after scores of attacks acrossthe country heightened fears that Israel's war with Palestinian militantgroup Hamas could engulf the wider region, reports BSS.
The Iran-backed militants' official media earlier said the Al-Dailami airbasein Yemen's rebel-held capital of Sanaa had been struck.
The Huthis, who have carried out weeks of attacks on Israel-linked shippingin protest of the Israel-Hamas war, warned that US and British interests were"legitimate targets" after the first volley of strikes.
Britain, the United States and eight allies said strikes carried out onFriday had aimed to "de-escalate tensions", but the Huthis vowed to continuetheir attacks.
"All American-British interests have become legitimate targets" following thestrikes, the rebels' Supreme Political Council said.
Hussein al-Ezzi, the rebels' deputy foreign minister, said the United Statesand Britain would "have to prepare to pay a heavy price".
The rebels have controlled much of Yemen since a civil war erupted in 2014and are part of an Iran-backed "axis of resistance" against Israel and itsallies.
Violence involving Iran-aligned groups in Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq and Syria hassurged since the war in Gaza began in early October.
UN chief Antonio Guterres called on all sides "not to escalate" in theinterest of regional peace and stability, his spokesman Stephane Dujarricsaid.
The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on the strikes Friday, daysafter adopting a resolution demanding the Huthis immediately stop theirattacks on ships.
At the meeting, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield warned that no ship wassafe from the threat posed by Houthi rebels to shipping in the Red Sea.
Russian ambassador Vassili Nebenzia denounced the "blatant armed aggression"against the entire population of the country.
- Red Sea attacks -
The Huthis have intensified attacks on what they deem Israeli-linked shippingin the Red Sea -- through which 12 percent of global maritime trade normallypasses -- since Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel triggered the Gaza waron October 7.
The United States and Britain launched strikes on Friday that targeted nearly30 locations using more than 150 munitions, US General Douglas Sims said,updating earlier figures, and President Joe Biden said he did not believethere were civilian casualties.
Biden called the strikes a successful "defensive action" after the"unprecedented" Red Sea attacks and said he would act again if the Huthiscontinued their "outrageous behaviour".
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the Huthis' breach of internationallaw warranted the "strong signal", with his government publishing its legalposition justifying the strikes as lawful and "proportionate".
But Nasser Kanani, spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry, said the Westernstrikes would fuel "insecurity and instability in the region" while"diverting" attention from Gaza.
The Huthis fired "at least one" anti-ship ballistic missile in retaliation onFriday that caused no damage, according to Sims.
The United States said it did not seek conflict with Iran, with NationalSecurity Council spokesman John Kirby telling MSNBC there was "no reason" foran escalation.
Middle Eastern leaders voiced concern at the violence, with Turkish PresidentRecep Tayyip Erdogan describing the strikes on Yemen as disproportionate andsaying: "It is as if they aspire to turn the Red Sea into a bloodbath."
Saudi Arabia said it "is following with great concern the militaryoperations" and called for "self-restraint and avoiding escalation".
The kingdom is trying to extricate itself from a nine-year war with theHuthis, though fighting has largely been on hold since a truce in early 2022.
Hamas said it would hold Britain and the United States "responsible for therepercussions on regional security".
- Economic cost -
Oil prices rose four percent on fears of an escalation before falling back.
Major shipping firms have rerouted cargo around the tip of Africa, hittingtrade flows at a time when supply strains are putting upward pressure oninflation worldwide.
Since mid-November, the volume of shipping containers transiting through theRed Sea has dropped by 70 percent, according to maritime experts.
Denmark's Torm on Friday became the latest tanker firm to halt transitthrough the southern Red Sea.
Dryad Global, a maritime security risk group, advised its clients to suspendRed Sea operations for 72 hours, citing the threat of Huthi retaliation.
- 'Death to America' -
Hundreds of thousands of people, some carrying Kalashnikov assault rifles,gathered in Yemen's capital Sanaa on Friday to protest, many waving Yemeniand Palestinian flags and holding portraits of Huthi leader Abdulmalik al-Huthi, an AFP journalist reported.
"Death to America, death to Israel," they chanted.
In Tehran, hundreds rallied against the United States, Britain and Israel,burning the three countries' flags outside the UK embassy while voicingsupport for Gazans and Yemenis, an AFP reporter saw.
In Gaza, Palestinians lauded Huthi support and condemned Britain and theUnited States.
"No one is standing with us but Yemen," said Fouad al-Ghalaini, one ofhundreds of thousands of Palestinians left homeless by Israel's bombardmentof Gaza City.