US seeks to avoid major escalation in Middle East: Pentagon

The US has been seeking to avoid major escalation in the region as fears rise over the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza spilling out into the region, Report informs, citing CNN.

And despite the Houthis saying the attacks are in protest of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, as well as US and coalition forces coming under regular attacks in Iraq and Syria and Israel and Hezbollah fighting over the Israel-Lebanon border, the Pentagon insisted Wednesday that the Israel-Hamas conflict has not spread.

"Clearly, there are tensions in the Middle East. There have been tensions there since the Israel-Hamas conflict has kicked off. We currently assess that the fight between Israel and Hamas continues to remain contained in Gaza,” Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said at a press briefing.

While the US said last week that the strikes would degrade the capability of the Houthis to continue carrying out attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, the Houthis have continued to do so. A US official told CNN previously that, in total, last week’s strikes destroyed roughly a third of the Houthis’ overall offensive capabilities.