White House Spokesman John Kirby said Thursday that the United States is looking to set up a multinational effort to counter attacks by Houthi rebels on merchant ships in the Red Sea. At a press briefing in Washington, he told reporters that the nation was not currently in an armed conflict with the group, which was de-listed as a terrorist organization by President Joe Biden in early 2021.
Earlier this week, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said during a press conference that the Biden Administration believes Iran is behind the Houthi attacks in the area.