Twelve nations, led by the United States, jointly warned Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Wednesday of severe consequences unless they stop attacking Red Sea cargo ships.
In a statement, the White House stated, “Let our message now be clear: we demand an immediate end to these illegal attacks and the release of unlawfully detained vessels and crews”.
“The Houthis will bear the responsibility of the consequences should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, and the free flow of commerce in the region’s critical waterways”, the statement reads.
The declaration follows allegations that President Joe Biden’s government is mulling direct strikes on the insurgents if the attacks continue.
The statement’s signatories included Britain, which warned the Huthis on Monday of direct action, as well as Australia, Canada, Germany, and Japan.
Bahrain was the only regional country to join, a tiny Gulf state with tight relations with Iran, which backs the Houthis.
The Houthis claim to be acting in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas conflict by targeting ships having ties to Israel.
The US has dispatched an aircraft carrier, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, to the area and previously announced a coalition of countries to defend movement in the Red Sea, through which 12 percent of global trade passes.
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