HOUTHIS VOW REVENGE AND RETALIATION AFTER US AND UK STRIKE 16 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS IN YEMEN

 The Houthis vow that US and UK strikes on their positions in Yemen will not go without "punishment or retaliation". The Iran-backed group pledges to continue its attacks on ships in the Red Sea and its support for Hamas in Gaza

1. Overnight military strikes by air and sea targeted 16 Houthi positions including command centres, munitions depots and air defence systems, the US says
2. President Biden says the action will protect the free flow of international commerce
3. British PM Rishi Sunak says the strikes were "limited, necessary and proportionate action in self-defence"
4. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer backs the action, but some opposition parties say Britain's parliament should be recalled to debate it
5. The Netherlands, Australia, Canada and Bahrain provided support as part of the mission, says Biden. 
   

6. US and UK have limited military options

   

   Jonathan Beale

   BBC defence correspondentPresident Biden has said he won’t hesitate to take further military action if necessary. 

   But the US has also made clear that it does not want to see a widening conflict in the Middle East. That suggests that any future US-led military action, if necessary, would again be limited.

   Airstrikes and long range cruise missiles are the least risky and costly for the US President in an election year.

   Remember the US has also been using limited airstrikes to target other Iranian backed groups in Iraq and Syria in recent months. But at best it’s a deterrent. It will not eliminate the threat.

   The strikes last night might also have degraded and destroyed some of the Houthis' ability to launch attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.

   But the Houthis have survived much worse – including years of being targeted by the Saudi Air Force.

   In public at least they remain defiant. They still have the capacity to launch further attacks. The only real option left for the US and UK is then doing more of the same – targeting from a distance.

   The US has bitter recent experience of more direct military action in the region – such as putting boots on the ground. 

   

   
   

7. Russia says strikes are 'illegitimate'

   We've just heard from a Kremlin spokesman condemning the US and UK strikes in Yemen. Peskov also says that the Kremlin has repeatedly urged the Houthis to cease attacks on shipping.

   Russia, which has been criticised for what the West says is an illegal war in Ukraine, says the attack on Yemen took place without any mandate from the United Nations and was an illegal "adventure" by the US and its allies.

   As we reported earlier, the Kremlin is also calling for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council on Friday. Russia is a close ally of Iran, which arms, trains and supports.  Russia is a close ally of Iran, which arms, trains and supports the Houthis.

   Russia and China abstained on Wednesday from a UN Security Council resolution that demanded the Houthis immediately cease their attacks on shipping and noted the right of UN member states to "defend their vessels from attack". 

   Shipping firms welcome measures to improve Red Sea security

   A spokesperson for the German company Hapag Lloyd says they "welcome measures that make the passage through the Red Sea safe again", according to Reuters.

   Danish shipping giant Maersk says it hopes increased security will lead to maritime commerce to transit through the Red Sea again, quoted by Reuters.

   Earlier, Maersk told the BBC that "significant disruption" to global trade was already being felt "down to the end consumer".

   Prior to the military strikes, Maersk chief executive Vincent Clerc had called for a "stronger mobilisation" to repel the attacks, which he said would lead to higher prices for customers. 

   1. THESE AND MANY MORE UPDATES AT: Yemen strikes live updates: Houthis vow retaliation after US and UK strike 16 sites - BBC News t should be recalled to debate it

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