As we previously detailed, the US-led coalition attempting to protect the vital transit waterway launched dozens of fresh missile and airstrikes, with most of them coming on Saturday against at least 36 targets. 

A Houthi spokesman, Yahya Saree, responded soon after on Sunday, saying "These attacks will not deter us from our moral, religious and humanitarian stance" in support of Palestinians in Gaza. He vowed that it won't pass "without response and punishment."

Video of launches from USS GRAVELY, USS CARNEY, and USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER supporting strikes on Iranian-backed Houthi targets pic.twitter.com/EMSkDANoeF

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 4, 2024

Additionally, Bloomberg has cited members of the Houthi political council to say the group now considers that there's "open war" and that its military capabilities remain undeterred - though this isn't the first time the Shia group has declared 'war' on Israel and its backers since Oct.7. 

Yet a separate Houthi official has said the goal of disruption of regional trade as revenge for Israel's crimes in Gaza will continue "no matter the sacrifices it costs us" and vowed escalation, according to Fox. Mohammed al-Bukhaiti's statement said further, "The US-British coalition's bombing of a number of Yemeni provinces will not change our position, and we affirm that our military operations against Israel will continue until the crimes of genocide in Gaza are stopped and the siege on its residents is lifted, no matter the sacrifices it costs us."

Washington is at the same time saying more strikes are on the horizon:

"We intend to take additional strikes, and additional action, to continue to send a clear message that the United States will respond when our forces are attacked, when our people are killed," White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told NBC's "Meet the Press" program on Sunday.