The US and its allies are weighing options for retaliation against escalating attacks at sea by Houthi militants as they struggle to balance their determination to deter further aggression against the risk of sparking a wider Mideast war. The Houthis, based in Yemen, launched their largest missile and drone attack to date on ships in the Red Sea on Tuesday, challenging US and UK forces patrolling the critical waterway. American and British jets and warships shot down 18 drones and three anti-ship missiles, according to the US military. The incident highlighted the failure of US and allied actions so far to deter the ... (full story)