US officials told reporters that the US and British strikes on Yemen targeted the military capabilities of the Houthis and sought to avoid collateral damage, and they emphasized that the actions of the Houthis represent a threat to the United States and the world.
 
One official told reporters in a conference call, "While we fully expect this action to reduce and weaken the Houthis' capabilities, and certainly over time reduce their ability and desire to carry out these attacks, we would not be surprised to see some kind of response."

He added, "The strikes on Yemen were precisely targeted against the Houthis' military capabilities and we sought to avoid collateral damage." He pointed out that "there is no intention to escalate after the strikes on Houthi targets."
 
He noted that US and British forces in the Red Sea are prepared to defend themselves following the airstrikes in Yemen.

The US official held Iran responsible for the Houthi attacks threatening one of the world's most important waterways, saying: "We hold Iran responsible for the role it plays in the attacks against US forces," adding, "We believe that Iran is involved at every stage of the Houthis' attacks.