The US and UK Armed Forces conducted strikes against 18 Houthi targets in Yemen. The attacks were backed by several Western nations including Australia, Canada, Denmark, New Zealand. The strikes targeted areas used by the Houthis to attack international merchant vessels and naval ships in the region. For months, Houthi attack have been disrupting aid bound for Yemen harming Middle Eastern economies. Meanwhile, Houthi military on February 25 said that they targeted an American oil tanker in Gulf of Aden. Houthi Military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said their navy targeted the US-flagged, owned commercial ship, MV Torm Thor. Britain also released a video of Typhoon fighter jets and Voyager tanker aircraft in operation for joint military action against Houthis. The US and Britain have re-designated the Houthis as a terrorist group, after they began targeting commercial vessels.

The Indian Navy on January 27 doused the fire on Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker Marlin Luanda. The vessel was struck by a Houthi anti-ship missile in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Navy responded quickly. According to Reuters, the tanker was on fire but no deaths or injuries were reported after the vessel was hit. Indian Navy’s guided missile destroyer INS Visakhapatnam deployed in Gulf of Aden responded to the distress call. The vessel had 22 Indian and 1 Bangladeshi crew onboard. Based on request, the firefighting team comprising 10 Indian Naval personnel embarked the vessel in early hours. Notably, Yemen’s Houthi militants have launched waves of exploding drones and missiles at vessels post Israel’s attack in Gaza.