Good afternoon and welcome to our global news coverage.

We’ll be bringing you more updates on the Israel-Hamas war and wider tensions in the Middle East throughout the day.

Last night, the UK and the US launched joint airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen in response to continued attacks in the Red Sea. 

It was the third time Britain has been involved in such strikes. 

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps insisted the strikes were not an escalation. 

Before we bring you today’s news, here are more updates from the last 24 hours… 

• Iraq warned security in the Middle East is on the “brink of the abyss” after the US carried out strikes in Iraq and Syria;
• The US strikes reportedly killed nearly 40 people;
• Meanwhile, Iran said the strikes in Iraq and Syria were “another strategic mistake” by the US and would only increase tensions in the region;
• US defence secretary Lloyd Austin said the strikes were “the start of our response”;
• Hamas was beginning to resurface in parts of Gaza where the Israeli military has largely withdrawn, four residents and a senior Hamas official told the Associated Press.

Houthis respond to US and UK strikes

The Houthis have said they will not be deterred by the UK and the US after the countries launched a round of joint airstrikes on the group’s capabilities in Yemen. 

Last night, the US and the UK used precision guided bombs to hit a number of Houthi targets in response to continued attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea.

The Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, say their attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians as Israel strikes Gaza.

But the US and its allies characterise them as indiscriminate and a danger to global trade. 

A Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Sarea, suggested in a statement that the group’s intervention in the Red Sea would continue.

“These attacks will not deter us from our ethical, religious and humanitarian stance in support of the resilient Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip,” Sarea said.