U.S. delivers private message to Iran amid airstrikes in Yemen

"I’ve already delivered the message to Iran. They know not to do anything. We delivered it privately and we're confident we're well-prepared," said U.S. President Joe Biden to journalists at the White House.

When asked if the U.S. is at war with Iran, the White House leader responded, "No. Iran does not want a war with us."

At the same time, Biden emphasized that the U.S. and its allies "We will make sure we respond to the Houthis if they continue this outrageous behavior."

Iran denies its involvement in the Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea, but Tehran is suspected of supplying weapons to the insurgents. The U.S. claims that Iranian intelligence plays a crucial role in preparing attacks on vessels.

Strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen

In November, the armed group of Shiite Zaidi rebels, also known as Yemeni Houthis, initiated attacks on civilian ships in the Red Sea with connections to Israel. This occurred against the backdrop of Israel's conflict with HAMAS, which is supported by Yemeni militants and Iran.

On January 10, the Houthis carried out one of the most significant attacks in the Red Sea in recent months. U.S. naval forces intercepted 24 rockets and drones launched from Yemen.

During the night of January 12, armed forces from the U.S. and the United Kingdom, with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, jointly struck Houthi targets in Yemen. The operation involved aircraft and ships, targeting weapon storage facilities and militant training bases. Sixty targets in 16 locations were successfully hit.

On the night of January 13, the U.S. and its allies conducted a second round of strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, targeting 12 militant locations.

However, despite these actions, the Houthis may still continue to attack ships.

President Biden stated that Yemeni Houthis should be recognized as a terrorist group.