© US Central Command via X/Handout via REUTERSAn aircraft takes off to join the U.S.-led coalition to conduct air strikes against military targets in Yemen from an undisclosed location, in this handout picture released on January 12, 2024.
The Houthis, who support Palestinian group Hamas, called the attacks "barbaric" and warned they will continue to target ships heading towards Israel. There was no comment yet from Israel.
Comment: As many analysts have noted, it's actually a duty of signatories of the genocide convention to disrupt any other nation that is perpetrating genocide, and the Houthis proved during the brief ceasefire that they are willing to desist in their blockade. Since the beginning of the escalation in Gaza, they have also demonstrated that it is only Israeli-linked vessels that are subject to the blockade.
Here are some of the international reactions to the attack, which threatens to further inflame tensions in the region.
Iran
"The attacks are happening in an effort to extend the full support of the US and UK in approximately the past 100 days for the war crimes of the Zionist regime against the Palestinian people and the besieged citizens of Gaza," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said: "These attacks are a clear violation of Yemen's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a breach of international laws."
Saudi Arabia
The foreign ministry called for restraint and "avoiding escalation" after the strikes and said it was monitoring the situation with "great concern".
"The kingdom emphasizes the importance of maintaining the security and stability of the Red Sea region, as the freedom of navigation in it is an international demand," it said.
Jordan
Jordanian foreign minister Ayman Safadi said: "The Israeli aggression on Gaza and its continued committing of war crimes against the Palestinian people and violating international law with impunity are responsible for the rising tensions witnessed in the region."
The stability of the region and its security were closely tied, Safadi said, according to state media.
"The international community is at a humanitarian, moral, legal and security crossroads," he added. "Either it shoulders its responsibilities and ends Israel's arrogant aggression and protects civilians, or allows Israeli Prime Benjamin Netanyahu and his extremist ministers to drag us to a regional war that threatens world peace."
Hezbollah
The Lebanese group, Hezbollah, which is an ally of Iran and the Houthis, said the US aggression confirms that Washington is in "full partnership" with Israel.
"The US is a full partner in the tragedies and massacres committed by the Zionist enemy in Gaza and the region," a statement from the group said.
Hamas
Condemning the strikes, Hamas said in a statement that the US and UK governments will bear responsibility for their attack's impacts on the security of the region.
Palestinian Islamic Jihad
The Gaza-based Palestinian group Islamic Jihad has said that the escalation confirms that the US administration is "waging a war of genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza".
"We call on the people of the Arab and Islamic nation to take action in rejection of the aggression against Yemen, which rose up in defence of Gaza and the holy places of Muslims in Palestine."
Russia
Russia said the strikes violate international law and wrongly take advantage of a United Nations Security Council resolution that had demanded the Houthis stop their attacks on shipping lanes.
"The US air strikes on Yemen are another example of the Anglo-Saxons' perversion of UN Security Council resolutions," said Maria Zakharova, the foreign ministry spokesperson.
Zakharova said the strikes showed a "complete disregard for international law" and were "escalating the situation in the region".
Comment: Indeed, the resolution specifically stated that acts of aggression were not to be employed.
France
France reaffirmed its condemnation of Houthi strikes on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, calling for an immediate stop to them.
"With those armed actions, the Houthis bear the extremely serious responsibility of the escalation in the region," the French foreign affairs ministry said in a statement.
Germany
Germany's foreign office said the strikes were meant to prevent further attacks. "Our aim remains to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea," the ministry posted on X.
Belgium
Belgium is working with its partners in the European Union and the United States to restore security in the Red Sea region and avoid any spillover, Belgium's foreign minister Hadja Lahbib said on X.
"The ongoing attacks by the Houthis are a real danger for the stability of the region and represent an escalation that benefits no one," she wrote.
The Netherlands
"The US-British action is based on the right of self-defence, aims to protect free passage and is focused on de-escalation. The Netherlands, with its long history as a sea-faring country, places significant importance on the right of free passage and supports this targeted operation," said Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
Denmark
Denmark fully supports the US and British strikes, according to a statement by Danish foreign minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen.
Comment: Italy, like Spain, has declined to provide military support:
Italy declined to take part in U.S. and British strikes overnight against the Houthi group in Yemen, a government source said on Friday, explaining that Rome preferred to pursue a "calming" policy in the Red Sea.
Earlier this week, Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto told Reuters that the Houthi attacks had to be stopped without triggering a new war in the region.
Italy announced in December it would send a naval vessel to the area following requests for back-up from ship owners, but it did not sign up to the U.S.-led mission, with other EU allies also appearing to distance themselves from the initiative.
Crosetto said Italy would have needed parliamentary approval for its involvement in a new international naval mission, complicating any eventual adherence.
Oman
Oman denounced the military action from "friendly countries", state media reported. Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said the attack went against his country's advice and will only add fuel to an extremely dangerous situation.
US Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell
McConnell welcomed the US-led coalition's operations against "the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists responsible for violently disrupting international commerce in the Red Sea and attacking American vessels".
"President Biden's decision to use military force against these Iranian proxies is overdue. I am hopeful these operations mark an enduring shift in the Biden administration's approach to Iran and its proxies," he said.
Democratic US Representative Ro Khanna
Khanna said that President Joe Biden "needs to come to Congress before launching a strike against the Houthis in Yemen and involving us in another Middle East conflict".
"That is Article I of the Constitution. I will stand up for that regardless of whether a Democrat or Republican is in the White House."
Democratic US Representative Val Hoyle
Hoyle stressed that "the air strikes have not been authorised by Congress".
"The Constitution is clear - Congress has the sole authority to authorize military involvement in overseas conflicts. Every president must first come to Congress and ask for military authorisation, regardless of party."
British MP Jeremy Corbyn
British Member of Parliament and former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said the military action was "a reckless act of escalation that will only cause more death and suffering".
"It is utterly disgraceful that Parliament has not even been consulted. When will we learn from our mistakes and realise that war is not the answer?", Corbyn wrote on X.
Comment: Labour leader, Keir Starmer, who helped foment the coup against Corbyn, has been an avid supporter of the genocide:
British MP Diane Abbott
British independent member of parliament Diane Abbott said that at a time when the UK government should be backing a ceasefire in Gaza, it was instead sending "jet fighters to back the US against the Houthis".
"No parliamentary approval and no idea where it will all end," Abbott said on X.
Did that big fella really die in Kyiv missile strikes - of course there is NO effing transparency.....
But I don't think these events are coincidences - I think they are connected.
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I support all efforts to blockade and boycott ( in and out ) the rogue state of Israel and all those who support a rogue state that has committed proven war crimes are complicit and valid targets especially if they behave offensively.
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BK