A spokesperson said the External Affairs Minister discussed the 'United States and India's shared concerns over reckless Houthi attacks in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden'
As the United States launched massive strikes against Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen over the rebel group's Red Sea attacks, a telephonic conversation took place between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken where the two leaders discussed the recent attacks on merchant ships.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday spoke with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller and had discussions on attacks on merchant ships by the Yemen-backed Houthi groups in the Red Sea.
The two leaders also reaffirmed their maritime cooperation in the region, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller informed.
"The Secretary and External Affairs Minister discussed the United States and India's shared concerns over reckless Houthi attacks in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, which threaten the free flow of commerce, endanger innocent mariners, and violate international law," Miller said.
During their conversation, the US Secretary of State emphasised that the Red Sea is a major commercial corridor that facilitates international trade and welcomed increased cooperation with India in defending freedom of navigation in the region.
The US Secretary and EAM Jaishankar also discussed the Israel-Hamas conflict, efforts to prevent the conflict's escalation and increase the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza. They also spoke about Russia's "war of aggression" against Ukraine.
Militaries of the US and UK have launched massive retaliatory strikes using warship-launched Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets against Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen on Thursday. The strikes mark the first US military response against the Houthis since they started targeting international shipping in the Red Sea late last year.
The White House released US President Joe Biden's statement where he said these strikes are in "direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks against international maritime vessels in the Red Sea—including the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles for the first time in history."
"These attacks have endangered U.S. personnel, civilian mariners, and our partners, jeopardized trade, and threatened freedom of navigation, Biden said.
The airstrikes also come right after US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on Thursday completed a multi-nation Middle East trip, aimed at getting support for more aggressive action toward the Houthis.