Iran “strongly condemned” the strikes, which the United States, Britain and eight other allies said aimed to “deescalate tensions”. The rebels have controlled a major part of Yemen since a civil war erupted there in 2014 and are part of a regional Iran-backed “axis of resistance” against Israel and its allies. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said at least five people had been killed. Prior to Friday’s strikes, Gerald Feierstein, a former US ambassador to Yemen, said bombing the Houthis would be “counter-productive”. It was the 27th attack on international shipping in the Red Sea since November 19, the US military said.
