President Biden has disclosed that the United States communicated a "private message" to Iran concerning the situation with the Houthis in Yemen, following the second US strike on the

group. Without divulging further details, Biden expressed confidence in the preparedness of the message delivery.

The recent strike, described as a "follow-on action," targeted Houthi radar capabilities. Iran denies direct involvement in the Houthis' Red Sea attacks but is suspected of supplying weapons to the group. The US asserts that Iranian intelligence plays a crucial role in enabling Houthi attacks on ships.

Joint UK-US airstrikes, supported by allies like Australia and Canada, targeted nearly 30 Houthi positions. UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron justified the military action as a response to Houthi attacks on Red Sea ships, emphasizing the necessity of the strikes.

Despite the strikes, a Houthi spokesman reported no significant impact on their ability to affect shipping. The Houthis, an armed group from Yemen's Shia Muslim minority, control substantial areas in Yemen, including Sanaa and the Red Sea coastline.

While Western governments frame the airstrikes as a response to Houthi attacks unrelated to the Gaza conflict, regional perspectives view them as the US and UK aligning with Israel. The Houthis claim solidarity with Hamas, leading to perceptions that the West supports Israel's stance.

The article highlights the potential risks of prolonged airstrikes, drawing parallels to Saudi Arabia's extended involvement in Yemen's civil war. Approximately 15% of global seaborne trade, including crucial resources like grain, oil, and liquefied natural gas, passes through the Red Sea.

The US states that the Houthis have attempted to attack vessels in the region multiple times, impacting major shipping companies and causing a tenfold increase in insurance costs since December. The article concludes by noting the escalating death toll and destruction in Gaza, with London and Washington backing Israel in response to attacks by Hamas. Photo by Sasan Geranmehr, Wikimedia commons.