Throughout weeks of hostility in which the Iran-backed Houthis relentlessly threatened and targeted commercial ships in the Red Sea, the United States has reiterated its commitment to its partners and role in ensuring regional stability and protecting global trade.

That commitment was clear when US-led strikes hit a range of Houthi targets early Friday (January 12) morning.

At 2.30am local time in Yemen, US forces, in coordination with the United Kingdom, and support from Australia, Canada, the Netherlands and Bahrain, conducted joint strikes on Houthi targets "to degrade their capability to continue their illegal and reckless attacks on US and international vessels and commercial shipping in the Red Sea," US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement.

"This multinational action targeted radar systems, air defense systems, and storage and launch sites for one way attack unmanned aerial systems, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles," it said.

"Today's coalition action sends a clear message to the Houthis that they will bear further costs if they do not end their illegal attacks," Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said.

"We will not hesitate to defend our forces, the global economy, and the free flow of legitimate commerce in one of the world's vital waterways."

NATO on Friday said the strikes were aimed at protecting shipping through the Red Sea and urged Iran to "rein in its proxies."

"These strikes were defensive, and designed to preserve freedom of navigation in one of the world's most vital waterways. The Houthi attacks must end," said NATO spokesman Dylan White.

The Houthis' attacks have jeopardized the movement of critical food, fuel and humanitarian assistance throughout the world.

A warning not heeded

A coalition of nations led by the United States on January 3 jointly warned the Iran-backed Houthis to immediately halt their attacks against commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea.

"Ongoing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea are illegal, unacceptable, and profoundly destabilizing," read the statement issued by the governments of the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom.

"There is no lawful justification for intentionally targeting civilian shipping and naval vessels," it read, adding that these attacks "are a direct threat to the freedom of navigation that serves as the bedrock of global trade in one of the world's most critical waterways."

"These attacks threaten innocent lives from all over the world and constitute a significant international problem that demands collective action."

"Let our message now be clear: we call for the immediate end of these illegal attacks and release of unlawfully detained vessels and crews," it said.

"The Houthis will bear the responsibility of the consequences should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, and free flow of commerce in the region's critical waterways."

Will and capability to strike adversaries

The United States has proven to have the will and capability to strike adversaries that threaten US assets and interests, and maintains the right to defend itself and its partners.

The US presence in the region is centered around the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, which includes an aircraft carrier, a guided-missile cruiser, two destroyers, and a number of aircraft squadrons.

Two other US destroyers have been reported in the region, as has a ballistic-missile submarine.

The USS Bataan, and 2,200 US Marines from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), are also present in the area.

The sea-based amphibious ready group is capable of a wide range of operations and remains a highly flexible option when it comes to the potential use of force, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.

These offer an "impressive air and missile defense capability, as well as robust intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities, not to mention offensive and defensive military power," Kirby added.

Series of illegal Houthi attacks

The Iran-backed Houthis have been escalating attacks on commercial vessels since November.

On January 11, the Houthis fired an anti-ship ballistic missile into international shipping lanes in the Gulf of Aden, missing its target, according to CENTCOM.

This represented the 27th Houthi attack on international shipping since November 19.

On January 9, US and UK warships and fighter jets shot down 21 drones and missiles over the Red Sea launched by the Houthis in their "largest attack" yet, the US and UK militaries said.

That attack involved Iranian designed drones, anti-ship cruise missiles and an anti-ship ballistic missile, CENTCOM said in a statement.

Houthi attacks since November have targeted ships from across the globe.

"Our assessment is that 55 nations have direct connections to the ships who have been attacked," US Naval Forces Central Command's Vice Admiral Brad Cooper said on January 4.

The impacts of these attacks "stretch across the globe," he said, stressing that "this is an international problem that requires an international solution."

"Countries that seek to uphold the foundational principle of freedom of navigation must come together to tackle the challenge posed by [the Houthis] launching ballistic missiles and uncrewed aerial vehicles at merchant vessels from many nations lawfully transiting international waters," Austin said in an earlier statement.