ANKARA

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday expressed grave concerns over the repercussions of the attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea, terming it "an unacceptable threat" to the security of the region. 

"The UAE expresses its deep concern regarding the repercussions of the attacks on marine navigation in Bab Al-Mandab and the Red Sea," the UAE Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

It said the "attacks constitute an unacceptable threat to international trade, security of the region, and international interests."

The ministry stressed on "the importance of protecting the security of the region, as well as the interests of its countries and peoples, within the framework of laws and international norms."

The statement came after the US and UK launched military strikes in Yemen late Thursday, following a string of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.

The group says it targets Israeli-linked vessels in solidarity with the people of Gaza, where Israeli attacks since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas have killed more than 23,000 Palestinians and led to mass destruction and displacement.

The attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea rerouted most of the trade flowing through the crucial maritime artery for goods and energy supplies, delaying shipments and raising transport costs.​​​​​​​