Yemen's recognised government: U.S., UK strikes a response to Houthis targeting Red Sea shipping

U.S. and British air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen this week are a response to the group's continued attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea, Yemen's internationally recognised government said on Friday.

The Saudi-backed government added that the Iran-aligned Houthis bore responsibility for dragging the Arabian Peninsula country into an arena of military confrontation.

Several oil tankers have diverted course from the Red Sea since overnight U.S. and British air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, LSEG and Kpler shipping data showed on Friday, amid rising fears of regional escalation of the Israel-Hamas war.