WH NSC Kirby: "We're Not Interested In A War With Yemen"

White House National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby has told reporters that President Biden is not interested in a war with Yemen, but restates Biden comments from yesterday that the US, "will not hesitate to take further actions," if Houthi attacks on US troops and commercial shipping in the Red Sea continue.

• Kirby: "We've not interested in a war with Yemen... everything the President has been doing is trying to prevent any escalation of the conflict, including the strikes last night."
• On the legality of the strikes, Kirby says, "we've very comfortable and confident in the legal authorities the President used to authorise these strikes."
• Kirby: "[The Houthis] have choices to stop these reckless attacks, as the President said last night... the President won't hesitate to take further actions to protect our troops, facilities, and international commerce."
• Kirby says Biden made the decision to authorise the strikes after the Houthi attack on Tuesday which utilised cruise missiles, drones, and ballistic missiles.
• Asked about US strategy to prevent war with Iran, Kirby says: "First of all there is no war with the Houthis... we want to see these attacks stop. We know that Iran backs the Houthis, as they do Hamas and Hezbollah... we will continue to hold Iran accountable for their destabilising actions..."
• Kirby says he "doesn't want to get ahead" of any future economic sanctions on Iran but says, "they certainly remain on the table."