The United States and its allies said Thursday following air strikes on Huthi targets in Yemen that stabilizing crucial Red Sea shipping lanes remains their goal. “Our aim remains to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea, but let our message be clear: we will not hesitate to defend lives and protect the free flow of commerce in one of the world’s most critical waterways in the face of continued threats,” said a joint statement from the governments of Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, United Kingdom and the United States.