US and British forces have launched several rounds of joint strikes, as well as unilateral air raids, aimed at reducing the Huthis' ability targeting vessels passing through the Red Sea. The Huthis began targeting Red Sea shipping in November, saying they were hitting Israeli-linked vessels to show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, and have since also declared US and British interests as legitimate targets. In this recent series of attacks, the British oil tanker, the Marlin Luanda, was hit by Yemeni naval forces, leading to the burning of the vessel, while a Panama-flagged oil tanker recorded seeing two blasts in the Gulf of Aden.

Fortunately, all personnel were reported safe following these attacks. These ongoing attacks have greatly disrupted trade in the Red Sea, prompting several shipping companies to divert from the region and take the longer and more expensive route around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. The attacks come following the difficult years the shipping industry has faced, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, when freight rates reached unprecedented levels due to disruptions to supply chains.

In response to these attacks, the United States has been leading a coalition effort to protect Red Sea shipping and has also imposed diplomatic and financial pressure on the Huthis, re-designating them as a "terrorist" organisation. These measures have been taken by the US in an effort to ensure safe passage through the Red Sea, which carries around 12 percent of international maritime traffic and plays a pivotal role in global trade.