The US military has launched a series of strikes on the Houthi rebels in Yemen, with the aim of ending their attacks on Red Sea shipping and sending a warning to Iran. The strikes, which have hit radar sites, missile defenses, and missile and drone systems, could last for days and may intensify in scope and scale. The Houthi attacks on shipping have had a significant impact on global trade, with the number of merchant ships passing through the Red Sea more than halving and many vessels rerouting around Africa instead. The US strikes are seen as the beginning of a sustained campaign that could last for weeks.