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After the United States and the United Kingdom launched strikes from the air and sea against Houthi military targets in Yemen, the militant organisation on Friday warned that the attackers were going to pay a heavy price.

Houthi Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Al-Ezzi said that the US and UK would “pay a heavy price” for the “blatant aggression” against Yemen.

“Our country was subjected to a massive aggressive attack by American and British ships, submarines, and warplanes, and America and Britain will undoubtedly have to prepare to pay a heavy price and bear all the dire consequences of this blatant aggression,” Hussein Al-Ezzi said.

After the attack, Biden said he “will not hesitate” to order further military action if needed.

“These targeted strikes are a clear message that the United States and our partners will not tolerate attacks on our personnel or allow hostile actors to imperil freedom of navigation,” Biden said.

Air strikes hit a number of cities in Yemen, where the Houthis control a large amount of territory. The strikes involved fighter jets and Tomahawk missiles, as reported by AFP.

ATTACKS BY HOUTHIS ON SHIPS

The Houthis fired an anti-ship ballistic missile into international shipping lanes in the Gulf of Aden, marking the 27th attack by the group since November 19, reported Reuters, quoting a US statement.

The strikes in Yemen came just days after the Houthis’ largest attack to date on January 9 in the Red Sea. This forced the US and British naval forces to shoot down 21 Houthi drones and missiles.

In December, more than 20 countries agreed to participate in a US-led coalition, known as Operation Prosperity Guardian, to safeguard commercial traffic in the Red Sea.

WHY HOUTHIS HAVE BEEN ATTACKING SHIPS

Houthi rebels, a group of militants backed by Iran, officially entered the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in November last year, signalling a significant escalation of the ongoing situation in West Asia.

The Houthis, who control most of Yemen, have defied international calls to halt their missile and drone attacks on Red Sea shipping routes.

They state that their attacks are in support of Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group that controls Gaza. Israel launched a military assault that has killed more than 23,000 Palestinians in Gaza after Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, which resulted in 1,200 deaths.