saying that these air strikes are very targeted strikes to try and stop the attacks on ships in the red sea and trying to take away the link between what is happening in israel and gaza, how is that narrative being interpreted in the middle east? ~ ~ being interpreted in the middle east? ~
to the latest us strikes. the houthis are saying that these attacks they have carried out targeting shipping vessels in the red sea are in response to israel s offensive against hamas in gaza. so they are linking those attacks to what s happening in gaza. i think yesterday we heard from hezbollah here in lebanon, another group that is supported by iran condemning those attacks. and i think this is the fear here that this could lead to an escalation of this violence here in the middle east. the houthis have vowed to retaliate after the first wave of attacks. and i think what happened overnight was that the us said that these attacks were a follow up action following the first wave of attacks. they said these recent strikes targeted a range of facilities being used by the houthis in yemen. we haven t had any confirmation
in response, the houthis have vowed to retaliate, further raising the prospect of a wider conflict in a region already affected by israel s war in gaza. you can always get the latest developments on taiwan s election on the bbc news website. we are running this live page, where you will find updates from our reporters, plus all the background and reaction from the island and the wider region. log in to bbc news dot com or download the bbc news app. the votes have stopped and the polls closed about two and a half hours ago. the count started immediately, almost as the boxes were closed they will being opened and counted. the numbers are coming through already,
earlier, i spoke to our middle east correspondent hugo bachega and asked him how leaders in the region are reacting to the latest us strikes. the houthis are saying that these attacks they have carried out targeting shipping vessels in the red sea are in response to israel s offensive against hamas in gaza. so they are linking those attacks to what s happening in gaza. i think yesterday we heard from hezbollah here in lebanon, another group that is supported by iran condemning those attacks. and i think this is the fear here that this could lead to an escalation of this violence here in the middle east. the houthis have vowed to retaliate after the first wave of attacks. and i think what happened overnight was that the us said that these attacks were a follow up action following the first wave of attacks. they said these recent strikes targeted a range of facilities
of the red sea coast. and they re backed by iran, which trains them, arms them, and provides them with intelligence, which it denies. this has enabled the houthis to build up a powerful arsenal of drones and missiles. now, the houthis have effectively entered the gaza war on the side of hamas. they ve demanded a ceasefire and they say they re targeting any ship linked to israel, but they ve also attacked plenty of vessels that aren t. the capabilities the iranians have provided the houthis have included cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and also the capability to manufacture home grown uavs, drones, which can be used as a cheap way to attack both shipping at sea and targets on the land. houthi patience may outlast america s and britain s in this crisis. their drones cost a fraction of what it cost to shoot them down. they ve vowed to keep attacking shipping and to exact revenge.