The United States conducted a series of air strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, marking the fifth such operation within a single week, according to reporting from The New York Times.

Sources indicate that these preemptive actions targeted missiles and launchers controlled by the Houthi movement. The intent, as US intelligence assessments suggested, was to blunt a potential threat to commercial vessels and naval ships navigating the Red Sea lanes.

On 18 January, Yemen’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs cautioned that the planned deployment of an European Union mission to the Red Sea could undermine regional security and stability.

That same day, The Wall Street Journal observed that Western attempts to uphold a stable maritime order faced limited participation from other nations in response to the Red Sea operations, raising questions about broader international support for such efforts.

Earlier statements from Russian officials, including Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov, described US actions and those of its partners as violations of international norms, signaling continued diplomatic friction over the incident and its repercussions for regional law and order.

Additionally, commentary from the United Kingdom proposed careful measures to prevent further escalation around the Red Sea, emphasizing restraint while pursuing peaceful resolutions to the tensions in the region.