The New York Times has reported that US President Joe Biden is facing increasing pressure to directly strike the Houthi armed group in Yemen amid their continued Red Sea attacks, Al Jazeera reports.

The Times report said US military officials have prepared plans to strike missile and drone bases in Yemen, but the Biden administration is hesitant to use them, as it remains concerned the strikes could inadvertently benefit Iran, while also jeopardising a delicate truce between Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

Retired Fifth Fleet commander Vice Admiral Kevin Donegan warned in the report that if the US did not respond to the Houthi threat it would invite more attacks as enemy groups start believing that “attacking a US ship carries a low risk of retaliation”.