of international law is wrong. people cannot act like this with impunity. that's why together with allies we have decided to take this action. on bbc verify, we have been examining videos of us and uk strike on yemen and what's triggered this latest crisis. the other main story today — the international court ofjustice hears israel's defence against accusations of genocide brought by south africa. the entirety of its case hinges on a deliberately curated decontextualised and manipulative description of the realities of the current hostilities. we will be speaking to the phd students who made the find which

challenges our understanding of the cosmos. hello, i m matthew amroliwala. welcome to verified live. the houthis in yemen have said american and british strikes against them will not go without punishment or retaliation. the group says five of its fighters were killed and six were injured overnight. us central command says more than 60 houthi military targets were struck, in response to attacks on ships in the red sea. they included what the us called command and control centres, munitions depots, launching systems, production facilities and air defence radar systems. among the areas targeted — the capital sanaa and the port of hudaydah. this was the moment us warplanes took off from an aircraft carrier. russia called the strikes �*illegitimate�* and requested an urgent meeting of the un security council.

iran — which supports the houthis — condemned the strikes in yemen as a clear violation of the country's territorial integrity. as a limited, proportionate response — and said no more military action was �*immediately planned'. jonathan beale reports. these strikes were led and coordinated by the us. last night, dozens ofjets launched from an american carrier already in the red sea — the scene of recent tensions. their targets — houthi rebels in yemen who had been launching their own attacks on merchant shipping. they'd been warned to stop or face the consequences. president biden said the strikes were in direct response to unprecedented houthi attacks against international maritime vessels in the red sea — including the use of sophisticated anti—ship missiles for the first time. britain was one of the few other

nations to directly take part. a more limited contribution — four raf typhoons flying from their base in cyprus, loaded with guided bombs. it took them several hours to reach their targets in yemen. it's clear that this type of behaviour can't be met without a response. we need to send a strong signal that this breach of international law is wrong. people can't act like this with impunity, and that's why, together with allies, we've decided to take this action. houthi rebels in yemen, backed by iran, have already scared off trade through one of the busiest sea lanes — notjust boarding ships, but targeting them with armed drones and missiles. they say it's in response to israel's attacks in gaza, and in support of palestinians. in reality, it's risking a wider conflict. the us and uk say their goal has only been to reduce tensions. the targets, they say, only military — houthi radars, drone and missile sites and command centres. this footage from one of the two raf strikes. at this stage it's only an initial

battle—damage assessment, but that would indicate both of the targets that the uk prosecuted were successfully destroyed. the houthis — who control a large chunk of yemen — claim several civilians were also killed. they also say they won't back down. iran and russia, too, have condemned the us—led strikes. they may have destroyed some of the houthis' arsenal, but not their willingness to fight. hence president biden says he won't hesitate to do it again. jonathan beale, bbc news. with me is our defence correspondentjonathan beale. let's start by discussing in a bit more detail those targets that were actually hit overnight. yes.

more detail those targets that were actually hit overnight.— actually hit overnight. yes, you can see what the _ actually hit overnight. yes, you can see what the us, _ actually hit overnight. yes, you can see what the us, which _ actually hit overnight. yes, you can see what the us, which has - actually hit overnight. yes, you can see what the us, which has been . see what the us, which has been leading this military action with the help of the uk has been doing. they have essentially been looking over the past few weeks, these are pre—planned strikes and where the houthis were shooting missiles, launching drones from to attack merchant shipping in the red sea and clearly marking those on a map, looking at where the supplies of those drones were coming from and also looking for communications, listening into command control centres, so in other words, they had mapped out where these things were happening and then launched the strikes where they thought they could destroy the most. so they wouldn't have destroyed, you know, the entire arsenal. the houthis have considerable arsenal notjust of also abuse weaponry but of recent and quite sophisticated weaponry provided by iran. —— notjust of old soviet weaponry. they hope that the us will have done enough to deter

the houthis from doing that again, but there is no indication they will heed this warning in the same way that they ignore the warning about consequences before this attack and i think there is every likelihood that the houthis will respond in kind, who knows how and when in the future. mat kind, who knows how and when in the future. ., , , �* ., future. not 'ust president biden are hoinu it future. notjust president biden are heping it will— future. notjust president biden are hoping it will stop _ future. notjust president biden are hoping it will stop houthi _ future. notjust president biden are hoping it will stop houthi attacks, i hoping it will stop houthi attacks, we heard the prime minister saying the exact same thing. what happens if it doesn't? it is the exact same thing. what happens if it doesn't?— if it doesn't? it is wishful thinking _ if it doesn't? it is wishful thinking to _ if it doesn't? it is wishful thinking to think - if it doesn't? it is wishful thinking to think military| if it doesn't? it is wishful- thinking to think military action will de—escalate the situation and us has made clear they do not see this as anything to do with what is going on in gaza, the actions by israel. that is not how the houthis see it. they see it as diving stealing to what is going on in gaza and that is why they say they have been trying to target the ships, the merchant ships sailing through the red sea, which will affect all others in terms of costs and travel

times of merchant shipping. it is hard to see what other options the us, and it is mainly the us, britain helped and the list of countries not taking part is longer than the list of countries taking part in this military operation. it is hard to see what else they can do other than air strikes. find see what else they can do other than air strikes. �* ., ., , ~ , air strikes. and more air strikes. and i sunpose — air strikes. and more air strikes. and i suppose one _ air strikes. and more air strikes. and i suppose one of— air strikes. and more air strikes. and i suppose one of the - and i suppose one of the difficulties was that the, one of the primary objectives from president biden was to stop this war spreading and i read out what the houthis of sed in the last few minutes, it is not to shipping, they quote that all us and british interests are now, quote, legitimate targets. that is a worry, isn't it? it is a worry and i think that the british believe that a royal navy warship in the red sea has already been deliberately targeted by the houthis. but what you may end up with is a tit—for—tat situation and just to be clear, there are no plans, as i understand, for more strikes tonight but. but they are

clearly waiting to see what the houthis do next, and if the houthis do do something they will have to respond militarily again, but in the same way they have been doing, using air strikes. and as we've seen in israel, in gaza, rather, when israel has been conducting a bombing campaign for months, and intense, unprecedented bombing campaign and it still hasn't able to defeat the mindset of hamas and i think that, you know, that will be the exact same problem that the us and its coalition, which includes the uk, will face when they are trying to get the houthis to back down. find will face when they are trying to get the houthis to back down. and we have seen that _ get the houthis to back down. and we have seen that with _ get the houthis to back down. and we have seen that with the _ get the houthis to back down. and we have seen that with the houthis - have seen that with the houthis themselves, haven't we? they have endured and lasted through nine years bombing in the war with the saudi led coalition.— years bombing in the war with the saudi led coalition. yes, and as you sa , auoin saudi led coalition. yes, and as you say. going on _ saudi led coalition. yes, and as you say. going on for— saudi led coalition. yes, and as you say, going on for years, _ saudi led coalition. yes, and as you say, going on for years, intense - saudi led coalition. yes, and as you say, going on for years, intense air| say, going on for years, intense air strikes by the saudis, and we should say that a huge cost, the civil war in yemen and the bombing campaign by

saudl in yemen and the bombing campaign by saudi. there is a humanitarian crisis in yemen itself but what's the saudis did, they thought they could bring the houthis to heal and they haven't been able to so i do not think that would night a bombing is going to do that again. thank not think that would night a bombing is going to do that again.— is going to do that again. thank you very much- — joining me now is gina abercrombie—winstanley, president of the middle east policy council in washington. she was us ambassador on that us security council and was deputy coordinator for counterterrorism over president obama. we are delighted to have you on the programme. what do you make of these air strikes overnight? i programme. what do you make of these air strikes overnight?— air strikes overnight? i think very much as your _ air strikes overnight? i think very much as your previous _ air strikes overnight? i think very much as your previous guest - air strikes overnight? i think very much as your previous guest said unfortunately, the united states and the uk and partners that supported those strikes really had no choice about responding, both to make the point for freedom of navigation and

also the domestic pressures within the united states. you will see members of congress, particularly from the republican party, asserting that it took too long for a response to the houthi attacks or navigation. so, there worst domestic pressure to have the strikes carried out as well. —— there was domestic pressure. unfortunately, nobody expects them to change the houthi baby immediately. they will have an impact, but the very measured nurse of the strikes does leave room to do more without having an all—out conflict with the houthis in yemen. i will come back to that point in a moment, but it does broadly imperil one of president biden's primary objectives over the last three months, which was to stop this spreading, spreading of this conflict in the region. absolutely. but b conflict in the region. absolutely. itut by having _ conflict in the region. absolutely. but by having this _ conflict in the region. absolutely. but by having this very _ conflict in the region. absolutely.

but by having this very measured | but by having this very measured response, it is giving room to ratchet it up if need be or to continue it, as said before a tit—for—tat but not an all—out conflict. that is not what states once and as you know, the united states has been working behind the scenes for the last few years to bring about peace within yemen. our special awn boy has been carrying out subtle diplomacy with the houthis, with the yemeni government and with others in the region, trying to bring peace. —— that is not what the united states wants. and you try to support the economic conflagration that has happened over the past few years in that conflict. so this is a direct clash in us priorities and interests in yemen to have one side strike yemeni targets and the port and the other side trying to get additional assistance

aid, humanitarian assistance into yemen through that reports. let me ask ou yemen through that reports. let me ask you about _ yemen through that reports. let me ask you about the _ yemen through that reports. let me ask you about the threats _ yemen through that reports. let me ask you about the threats of - ask you about the threats of retaliation. are there obvious targets for the houthis in the wider region that they could go after? while, there are a couple of things. one, it depends on how far the missiles, the weapons they have, how far they go. as we know, there are already strikes happening against us forces stationed in syria and iraq by other proxies, and of course, the other border and that israel is fighting with hezbollah on. so all of these things are out there, whether houthis in trouble, how far their weapons can reach, that is something we will have to keep an eye on. something we will have to keep an e e on. �* ., , something we will have to keep an e e on. ~ . , ., _ eye on. are the relatively easy taraets? eye on. are the relatively easy targets? we — eye on. are the relatively easy targets? we have _ eye on. are the relatively easy targets? we have seen - eye on. are the relatively easy targets? we have seen that i eye on. are the relatively easy - targets? we have seen that targets have been hit _ targets? we have seen that targets have been hit in _ targets? we have seen that targets have been hit in iraq _ targets? we have seen that targets have been hit in iraq and _ targets? we have seen that targets have been hit in iraq and syria - targets? we have seen that targets have been hit in iraq and syria by i targets? we have seen that targets have been hit in iraq and syria by a| have been hit in iraq and syria by a radiant proxies, those that want us forces out of the region. == radiant proxies, those that want us forces out of the region.— forces out of the region. -- irani and modes _ forces out of the region. -- irani

and proxies. in _ forces out of the region. -- irani and proxies. in terms _ forces out of the region. -- irani and proxies. in terms of- forces out of the region. -- irani and proxies. in terms of eu - forces out of the region. -- irani i and proxies. in terms of eu grant, because all the indications are that they are pulling the strings, is it possible to make an assessment of how far they are prepared to go? —— iranian proxies. how far they are prepared to go? -- iranian proxies.— iranian proxies. that is something eve one iranian proxies. that is something everyone will _ iranian proxies. that is something everyone will keep _ iranian proxies. that is something everyone will keep a _ iranian proxies. that is something everyone will keep a close - iranian proxies. that is something everyone will keep a close eye - iranian proxies. that is something everyone will keep a close eye on | everyone will keep a close eye on and so far, it has been very effective to use their proxies. it is unlikely to have a direct strike on iran, without something very directly being tied to iran by the united states, its allies or by israel. but the cost of this tit—for—tat, the cost of this ongoing conflict particularly in gaza but elsewhere in the region, is that in addition to the increase in the cost of shipping, increased cost because shipping has to be escorted through those shipping lanes, but it is also a cost about radicalisation of those in the region and beyond. we have seen the response in bahrain, certainly in other areas in

the region where ever it isjordan, morocco, saudi arabia, those that have participated in the abraham accords and beyond, seeing this continued bombing of the gaza strip and now seeing western strikes against yemen is certainly going to lead to increased radicalisation, which means even more possibility for violence. which means even more possibility forviolence-_ for violence. yes, that is a real problem. _ for violence. yes, that is a real problem. isn't _ for violence. yes, that is a real problem, isn't it? _ for violence. yes, that is a real problem, isn't it? because - for violence. yes, that is a real| problem, isn't it? because they for violence. yes, that is a real- problem, isn't it? because they have tried to wrap the umbrella and the cloak of protecting global shipping with these latest bombardments, but thatis with these latest bombardments, but that is not how many people in the region see it, is it? and that is potentially hugely dangerous. i concur, absolutely, and i would say that this is, for the extent that united states should be considering ensuring that others are upfront in this effort to secure shipping, this is not a us problem. this is not a us and uk problem, this is a problem

that affects all of the nations that are in the region, all of the nations that ship goods through that shipping lane and others can step up and should be in the forefront of that particular effort to keep the houthis understanding that they are upsetting a wider section of the international community. i5 upsetting a wider section of the international community. is it frustrating — international community. is it frustrating at _ international community. is it frustrating at all _ international community. is it frustrating at all that - international community. is it frustrating at all that inevitably and always, it seems to come down to the us and the uk? and always, it seems to come down to the us and the uk?— the us and the uk? while, that is the us and the uk? while, that is the cost of _ the us and the uk? while, that is the cost of being _ the us and the uk? while, that is the cost of being great _ the us and the uk? while, that is the cost of being great powers, i the us and the uk? while, that isj the cost of being great powers, of having the military strength that we do and of course, the willingness to use it. but we are not the only ones and i would argue, and i imagine that there are conversations happening behind the scenes about the need for others to step up and play a role in securing international shipping. well, we have a un _ international shipping. well, we have a un security _ international shipping. well, we have a un security council- international shipping. well, we | have a un security council being called by russia on exactly this a little later. we will see if there are contributions that approach some

of those arguments and thoughts put forward. gina abercrombie—winstanley, thank you so much forjoining us here on bbc news. good to talk to you. you too. with more — news. good to talk to you. you too. with more on _ news. good to talk to you. you too. with more on the _ news. good to talk to you. you too. with more on the impacts _ news. good to talk to you. you too. with more on the impacts of - news. good to talk to you. you too. with more on the impacts of these i with more on the impacts of these recent destructions, here is our chief economics correspondent. so all of this, of course, is happening at 3000 miles away. but that red sea is one of the most crucial shipping routes, transporting 15% of traded goods, typically from east to west. and 90% of our imports in the uk come by sea, typically non—perishables, from energy to furniture. already, as vessels have faced attack, many major shipping firms have diverted to this route. the red line there, it takes ten days longer, adding $1 million.

the red line there, it takes ten days longer, adding $1 million to the average container ships fuel costs. in germany, already, tesla has halted some production as components are held up already, tesla has halted some production as components are held up. here on the high street, next and ikea have warned of delays. but all of this is happening after the christmas rush so consumers will notice less disruption. and even if costs are passed on, the impact should be relatively small. however, 13% of crude oil also travels by this route. the price of crude is up overnight, but it does remain below where it was last autumn. and if the conflict escalates, there are worries about potential interruptions to shipments of liquid gas. but we are currently well stocked and any impact on energy bills would not be felt for several months. so while this is not derailing our prosperity yet, that unrest in the red sea,

if is prolonged and escalates, could threaten growth and declining inflation just at a time when the economy is already feeling quite fragile. the boss of maersk — one of the world's biggest shipping companies — has already been warning of �*significant disruption' to global supply chains because of those houthi attacks. the maersk ceo told the bbc, that the extra costs on freight are already being passed onto consumers. this is one of the most important arteries of global trade and having to re—route all of this cargo now south of the cape of good hope is going to create significant disruptions to the global supply chain for the duration in which we have to do that, and probably a few months more as we have to get back then into normal. so you need to see, i think, a stronger mobilisation. the other thing is that the level of threat is actually evolving, and so, for the coalition that is trying to put in place this safe passage, they need to constantly reassess the level of protection. but for us, it is really important that this is being addressed with diligence and with a strong mobilisation of the international community so that normal global trade can resume. around the world and across the uk.

you're watching bbc news. let's stay with those strikes in yemen, and hear from dr elisabeth kendall, specialist on yemen and middle east at cambridge university. she explained why we're seeing attacks in the red sea. we need to take them, at least to some degree, at face value. i do believe that ideologically, the houthis think they are defending the palestinians against the might of israel, america and their allies, but there is of course also a bit of scepticism about this, it works very well for them politically at the same time, and their motives are domestic, regional and international. domestically, they can now position themselves as the hero, as those who are defending the palestinians who nobody else appears at least around the arab world to be able to defend or speak out against america and

that wins some support at the time when their base is probably quite tired after nearly a decade of civil war and regionally, it wins them leverage in the ongoing talks with saudi arabia as saudi tries to negotiate its own exit from the civil war in yemen and internationally, they gain maximum publicity. israel has called on judges at the international court ofjustice to throw out the case brought by south africa, alleging that it is committing genocide in gaza. on the second and final day of hearings at the un's highest court, lawyers acting for israel argued that demands by south africa for a stop to the offensive in gaza lacked any merit. on thursday, south africa accused the highest levels of the israeli state of nurturing genocidal intent against palestinians in gaza. it wants the icj to issue an injunction to stop israel's military campaign. israel's foreign ministry adviser, tal becker, said south africa had presented a profoundly distorted factual and legal picture. the applicant has regrettably put

before the court a profoundly distorted factual and legal picture. the entirety of its case hinges on a deliberately curated, decontextualised and manipulative description of the reality of current hostilities. south africa purports to come to this court in the lofty position of a guardian of the interest of humanity. but in delegitimising israel's 75—year existence in its opening presentation yesterday, that broad commitment to humanity rang hollow. and in its sweeping counterfactual description of the israeli—palestinian conflict, it seemed to erase bothjewish history and any palestinian agency or responsibility. it is the second day of the landmark case, which began yesterday

with the south africa presenting its argument. let's listen back to yesterday's closing statement from the lawyer representing their legal team. the international community continues to fail the palestinian people, despite the overt, dehumanising, genocidal rhetoric, dehumanising, genocidal rhetoric by israeli governmental and military officials matched by the israeli army's actions on the ground. despite the horror of the genocide against the palestinian people being livestreamed from gaza to our mobile phones, computers and television screens, the first genocide in history where its victims are broadcasting their own destruction in real time in the desperate, so far vain, hope that the world might do something. let's go live to our correspondent anna holligan who is live at the

hague. back to today, just tell us a bit more about the case that israel put forward in their defence. israeli put forward in their defence. israel accused south _ put forward in their defence. israel accused south africa _ put forward in their defence. israel accused south africa of— put forward in their defence. i"—ei accused south africa of weapon icing the term genocide and trivialising the term genocide and trivialising the genocide convention itself under which this case was brought. —— of weapon icing. israel's lawyers invokes memories of the holocaust and said it was acting in self defence in response to the hamas attacks on the 7th of october which it said were concerted campaign, a calculated mass murder, the worst since the nazis. we have heard today from israel and attempts to reinterpret some of the arguments presented by south africa yesterday, so for example, when south africa talked about the military campaign, the bombings, israel said they were attempting to remove the threat posed by hamas. while south africa

talked about forced displacement of more than i talked about forced displacement of more thani million people in gaza, israel said it had been acting to try to protect and preserve civilian life. so now it is all over, at least for now, israel had three hours, south africa had three hours, and it is now down to the judges to make their interpretation of the evidence presented by both sides. and in terms of any sort of decision, there is the ultimate decision, there is the ultimate decision, but as south africa have been pushing for, they want some sort of intermediary action, don't they? sort of intermediary action, don't the ? , ., sort of intermediary action, don't the? , ., sort of intermediary action, don't the ? , ., ., they? exactly, and the court dealing with this as a _ they? exactly, and the court dealing with this as a matter _ they? exactly, and the court dealing with this as a matter of _ they? exactly, and the court dealing with this as a matter of urgency, - they? exactly, and the court dealing with this as a matter of urgency, so | with this as a matter of urgency, so south africa has asked for an urgent injunction to prevent any further risk of genocide, and the bar for this is relatively low. judges have to decide there is a plausible possibility of genocide being committed in order to issue any kind of provisional measures. south africa wants the courts to rule that

israel must immediately cease any hostilities. if that order is granted and it is ignored by israel, the risk is it willjeopardise some of the international support from, for example, the us and the uk to date. �* ., ., ., ., date. anna holligan live from the ha . ue. date. anna holligan live from the hague- thank _ date. anna holligan live from the hague. thank you _ date. anna holligan live from the hague. thank you for _ date. anna holligan live from the hague. thank you for taking - date. anna holligan live from the hague. thank you for taking us i hague. thank you for taking us through that. we will take a short break. i am through that. we will take a short break. iam back through that. we will take a short break. i am back with more from the middle east here on the programme in just a moment or two. don't go away. good afternoon. it's pretty chilly out there and it has been for much of the week, but colder air is on the way by the end of the weekend. behind this weather front, we've got a blast of arctic air to contend with and stronger winds. for the meantime, the winds are, for the most part, relatively light, but they've just dragged a lot of cloud under this area of high pressure, some drizzle near the east coast and a weather front is starting to make its way into the northern and western isles and that will bring about that change.

the best of the sunshine the rest of the day is likely still to be across parts of scotland, northern ireland, western fringes of england and wales, but we're seeing a few breaks near the east coast. temperatures aren't quite as low as they have been because it wasn't quite as cold last night. again, the frost will be with us in some parts, but our weather front slinking southwards through scotland and northern ireland will bring a smattering of rain behind it. temperatures won't be as low as they were this nightjust gone. furthersouth, patchy frost and patchy fog, but still quite a bit of cloud for england and wales to start our saturday. clearing away, though, from northern ireland and any patchy rain here and for scotland. just a scattering of showers following. in the south, as we're seeing today, there will be quite a bit of cloud with some sunshine coming and going. as we move into the latter part of the weekend, sunday into next week, it will turn a lot colder. that blast of arctic air will bring, we think, the coldest snap of the winter so far because there will be the wind chill to add to it and the increasing risk of snow. as you can see on sunday, still a lot of cloud in southern and western areas, but further north we're

starting to get colder with those snow showers. there are already warnings out for snow in the north for sunday. into monday, as well, when the risk extends further south. these are the most likely areas to see snow. we're not saying those will be the only areas, but where it's likely to cause disruption. still a question mark about this low pressure system running east across perhaps northern ireland, southern scotland, northern england as we go towards the middle of the week — tuesday, wednesday. we have and we'll have to keep putting the detail on this. we could see a system running close to the south later in the week, wednesday into thursday, so that will increase the risk of some disruptive snow across the southern half of the uk, but still that risk with us further north. so the devil's in the detail in terms of where we're going to see the snow next week, but it does look set to be colder, as well, with some severe night frosts.

this is bbc news, the headlines: yemen's houthi movement vows retaliation as us and uk forces launch air strikes against houthi targets. britain says the strikes were "a limited, necessary and proportionate response" to repeated houthi attacks on global shipping in the red sea.

the international court ofjustice hears israel's defence against accusations of genocide brought by south africa. and a new discovery which challenges our understanding of the cosmos? we will be speaking to the phd student who made the find. all of those stories coming up in a moment. sport and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre, here's ollie foster. hello from the bbc sport centre. a busy day of premier league news conferences today. we've heard from the manchester united manager erik ten hag for the first time since jadon sancho returned to borussia dortmund on loan. the 23—year—old is back at his old club until the end of the season after being frozen out of the ten hag's first teams plans for the last four months. he publicly fell out with the maanger after he was left out