The international community voiced concern as the United States and the Houthi group have both vowed escalation after US President Donald Trump ordered his first airstrikes in Yemen, which killed 53 people, including five children.
The Houthis claimed on Monday to have twice attacked a US aircraft carrier group within 24 hours, calling it retaliation for Saturday's US strikes. According to a US official, the Houthis did fire drones and at least one missile in response to the US attack.
China on Monday called for a dialogue and de-escalation of tensions in the Red Sea.
"China opposes any action that escalates the situation in the Red Sea," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a news conference in Beijing. "The reasons behind the situation in the Red Sea and the Yemen issue are complex and should be properly resolved through dialogue and negotiation."
▲ People clean debris in front of their shops after US airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, on Sunday. Osamah Abdulrahman/AP
In a statement, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for "utmost restraint and a cessation of all military activities", while warning of "grave risks" to the dire humanitarian situation in Yemen.
"Any additional escalation could exacerbate regional tensions, fuel cycles of retaliation that may further destabilize Yemen and the region, and pose grave risks to the already dire humanitarian situation in the country," his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
The warning came after the Houthi Supreme Political Council — the group's highest governing authority — vowed a "painful "retaliation, framing the US attacks as support for Israel and warning they would "drag the situation to a more severe and painful level".
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea initially said they launched 18 missiles and a drone at the "aircraft carrier USS Harry Truman and its accompanying warships" in the Red Sea, hours later claiming to have fired a second round.
In a televised address, Houthi leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi said the US cargo ships would be targeted "as long as it continues its aggression". He called for a million Yemenis to march on Monday in defiance. "If they continue their aggression, we will continue the escalation," he said.
The US airstrikes came days after Houthis said they would resume their attacks against Israeli-linked shipping until the crossings of the Gaza Strip are reopened and aid allowed in.
