AUDIO: US hits Houthi positions

Sabra Lane: The Trump administration's warning its military action against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen could go on for days, maybe weeks, and it argues it's doing the world a favour. The development's happening as President Donald Trump raises hopes for a ceasefire in Ukraine. America's editor, John Lyons, reports from Washington.

John Lyons : Eighteen months ago, the Houthis began attacking ships in the Red Sea to support Hamas in its war with Israel. Their attacks continue despite the ceasefire in Gaza. Pete Hegseth is the US Defence Secretary.

Pete Hegseth : Ships haven't been able to go through for over a year without being shot at. Freedom of navigation is basic. It's a core national interest. And President Trump has said, we will restore that and we will be unrelenting. I want to be very clear. This campaign is about freedom of navigation and restoring deterrence. The minute the Houthis say, we'll stop shooting at your ships, we'll stop shooting at your drones, this campaign will end. But until then, it will be unrelenting.

John Lyons : US Secretary of State Marco Rubio joined the chorus of administration officials saying the pressure against the Houthis will only escalate.

Marco Rubio : We're doing the entire world a favour by getting rid of these guys and their ability to strike global shipping. That's the mission here and it will continue until that's carried out.

John Lyons : While the war against the Houthis is intensifying, Washington says that it's making progress in trying to reach a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine. Here's President Trump speaking on Friday local time.

Donald Trump: We're looking for the ceasefire now with Russia and we've had some very good talks about it. They've agreed for a ceasefire if we can get it with Russia and it's not easy. It's a tough one. But I think we're doing it.

John Lyons : The politics of the Ukraine war are excruciatingly complicated. Donald Trump wants a quick resolution. Vladimir Putin wants to continue to use Russia's military advantage to take more land. And Volodymyr Zelenskyy doesn't want to agree to a ceasefire which gives up the one-fifth of Ukraine Russia has occupied, which makes it unlikely there will be any imminent resolution. This is John Lyons in Washington, reporting for AM.