The continuous strikes in the Red Sea by the Houthi rebels do not seem to subside, as the Iran-backed militant group has vowed to step up its attacks on the ships in the vital shipping lane. The combined efforts of the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands are deterring the attacks by Houthis.
Warning the Houthi rebels, US President Joe Biden stated that the US and its allies would not hesitate to attack the rebels further to protect the people and the free flow of international commerce. Meanwhile, a Houthi military spokesperson on Friday stated that 73 strikes have left at least five people dead and wounded six others while vowing to continue targeting ships.
Terming the attacks as “barbaric”, the Houthis have threatened that US and UK interests have now become their “legitimate targets”.
The intense fighting between US and UK navies and Houthi rebels has led to oil prices surging up by 4%. For the first time this year, Brent crude hit $80 per barrel as an Iran-backed militant group vowed to retaliate against the military led by the US.
To discuss the shared concerns over the reckless Houthi attacks in the southern Red Sea, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had a phone call, stated the US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller.
The US Secretary emphasized that the Red Sea is a major commercial corridor that facilitates international trade and welcomed increased cooperation with India in defending freedom of navigation in the region.
Beyond maritime security, the talks also addressed the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Both leaders discussed concerted efforts to prevent the conflict’s escalation and explored avenues to enhance the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza.
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