Russia called the U.S. and British operation disproportionate and illegal. Other countries expressed concerns that the U.S. and British strikes against 28 locations would stoke regional tensions, already high over Israel's offensive against Gaza's ruling Hamas Islamists. The United States, she continued, would continue pursuing a diplomatic response while seeking to defend commercial shipping. More than 2,000 ships have been forced by the Houthi attacks to divert from the Red Sea since November. Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia charged that the U.S and British strikes violated international law and raised regional tensions.

Source: The Times January 13, 2024 12:31 UTC