The US and the UK launch strikes in Yemen against the Houthis, who are supported by Iran

Following the Biden administration's and its allies' warning that the Iran-backed militant group would suffer the consequences of repeated drone and missile attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, the US and UK militaries launched strikes against multiple Houthi targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen on Thursday. This marked a significant response.

"In direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks against international maritime vessels in the Red Sea," according to President Joe Biden, he ordered the strikes.

"Today, under my command, U.S. military forces—along with the United Kingdom and with assistance from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands—successfully carried out strikes against several targets in Yemen that the Houthi rebels were using to jeopardize freedom of navigation in one of the most important waterways in the world," the president stated in a White House statement.

"Not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary," Biden continued.

Abdul Malek Al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthis, stated in a speech on Thursday that any US attack on Yemen "will not go unanswered" and that there would be "much more" in the way of retaliation than just hitting US ships at sea.