Iran Condemns US/UK Airstrikes on Houthi Targets

Iran says US/UK airstrikes on Houthi rebel positions in Yemen violate the country’s sovereignty.

• “We consider it a clear violation of Yemen’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a breach of international laws, regulations, and rights,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said.
• The airstrikes struck targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen early Friday after weeks of disruptive attacks on Red Sea shipping by the Iran-backed rebel forces.
• Fears over retaliatory strikes on international shipping, especially anything UK or US destined, risks other ships passing the region to use the Suez Canal route – a key driver of energy Friday.
• Iranian sourced escalations had already been growing this week after it seized a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman and ordered it to sail to an Iranian port.
• Iranian state media, quoting the navy, said the seizure was in retaliation for the ship and oil it had aboard being confiscated by the US last year.