Houthis vow response after 2nd night of US strikes on Yemen

Strikes add to concerns about escalation of regional conflict since start of war in Gaza

The Houthi movement threatened a "strong and effective response" after the United States carried out a second night of strikes on Yemen on Jan 13, further ratcheting up tensions as Washington vows to protect shipping from attacks by the group.

The strikes have added to concerns about the escalation of the conflict that has spread through the region since the war in Gaza broke out last October.

The latest strike, which the US said targeted a radar site, came a day after dozens of American and British strikes on the group's facilities. The US conducted the latest operation on its own.

"This new strike will have a firm, strong and effective response," Mr Nasruldeen Amer, Houthi a spokesman, told AI Jazeera, adding that there had been no injuries nor "material damage".

Mr Mohammad Abdulsalam, another Houthi spokesman, told Reuters that the strikes, including the one overnight that hit a military base in Sanaa, had no significant impact on their capabilities to continue preventing Israel-affiliated vessels from passing through the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea.

The Pentagon said on Jan 12 the US-British strikes had "good effects".

The Houthis have cast their maritime campaign as support for Palestinians under siege by Israel in Hamas-ruled Gaza. They said they are targeting all ships heading to Israel, regardless of their nationality. In December, the Houthis warned all international shipping companies against dealing with Israeli ports.

Many of the vessels they have targeted had no known connection to Israel. The group, which controls Sanaa and much of the west and north of Yemen, has also fired drones and missiles up the Red Sea at Israel itself.