Yemen’s Crisis in the Middle East: U.S. Response to the Houthis and the Saudi-supported Houthi Embassies
The Saudi-backed Yemeni government and the Iran-aligned Houthis have been locked in a conflict since 2015, a fight that has killed hundreds of thousands and left some 80% of Yemen’s populations dependent on humanitarian aid, according to the United Nations.
What will this latest U.S. attack on Yemen mean for Iran in the region? Will they increase their attacks on shipping or U.S. troops? Will Iran get more involved? Already Iran has a sent a frigate into the Red Sea.
The United States says it killed a leader of a militia that was behind attacks on its forces in the country. The killing offended some Iraqi leaders and raised questions about the US presence in the country.
Israel said it was going to destroy Hamas, the group that rules the Gaza Strip. Israel’s air, ground and sea assault has led to more than 23,000 deaths in Gaza, according to health officials there, with most of those killed women and children.
The conflict in the Middle East was getting bigger before the US strikes in Yemen. Iranian-backed militias have continued attacks on U.S. forces in Syria and Iraq, with the Pentagon logging some 120 attacks since October. Three Americans were wounded in Iraq, one of them with a critical head wound.
A steady stream of U.S. officials — from Secretary of State Antony Blinken to national security adviser Jake Sullivan to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin — have all pressed for a more targeted ground campaign, protection of civilians and an increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The strikes came after a series of Houthi attacks against ships in the Red Sea. In an attempt to support Palestinians in Gaza, the Houthis have been attacking Israeli ships and vessels headed to Israel and some of the targets have had no connection to Israel.
The diplomatic campaign and attacks against commercial vessels were followed by a defensive action. These targeted strikes are a clear message that the United States and our partners will not tolerate attacks on our personnel or allow hostile actors to imperil freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most critical commercial routes. I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary.
The shipping giant Maersk stated that the security risk continues to be at an elevated level and that the situation is constantly evolving. “All Maersk vessels that are due to transit the Red Sea will be diverted south towards the Cape of Good Hope for the foreseeable future.”
The recent and repeated attacks on shipping in the Red Sea resulted in the creation of a naval coalition spearheaded by the U.S. and some two dozen other countries.
This is not the first time the U.S. has attacked Houthi targets in Yemen. Back in 2016, the U.S. launched three cruise missiles against coastal radar sites after failed Houthi missile attacks on a U.S. destroyer.
He says the Houthis have a very advanced arsenal of missiles, including medium-range missiles that can reach southern Israel, that are provided by Iran.
U.S. and Saudi Allies in the Middle East: The Counterattack on the Houthi-Mirror in Yemen
Behnam Ben Taleblu, who focuses on Iranian security and political issues at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a nonprofit think tank in Washington, wonders whether the U.S. strikes were designed to send a message or lead to a broader assault.
“Tehran and its proxies are pressing their attacks because they haven’t confronted steel,” McKenzie wrote. “The ability to stop such probing generally depends on a swift and violent counterattack.”
The Wall Street Journal published an opinion piece by a retired US Marine general who claimed that he was the top officer in the Middle East and that it was time to send a message to Iran.
“This is a global crisis brought on by weak presidential leadership,” Wicker said in a news release on Jan. 4. “It is time for President Biden to allow our regional commanders the freedom of action they need to end terrorist behavior by the Houthis.”
Republican Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said recently on ABC’s This Week, that the Biden administration must take a tougher stance against the Houthi militants.
Here is President Biden’s full statement on the strikes conducted against the Houthi militia in Yemen by the United States and allies, as released by the White House on Thursday:
In Bahrain, another U.S. ally, people took to the streets on Friday to protest their country’s involvement in the military coalition, according to Bahraini activists who shared pictures of the demonstrations. The joint statement announcing the strikes identified the government ofBahrain as a part of the coalition.
The close ally of the U.S. expressed concern that the US action would only inflame the conflict between the parties and would not deter the Houthis.
Nasser Kanani, a spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, denounced the strikes as “a violation of international laws” and said they “will have no result other than fueling insecurity and instability in the region.”
The United States and some allies in the Middle East condemned the American-led airstrikes against targets in Yemen on Friday and warned that they could cause a wider conflict.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Mr. Abdul Salam signaled that Houthi forces would retaliate for the U.S. strikes, saying, “Now, the response no doubt is going to be wider.”
Up First Briefing: U.S. strikes Houthis; Israel defends against genocide charges brought by South Africa at the International Court of Justice in The Hague
Israel is defending itself today against a charge of genocide brought by South Africa at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. Yesterday, South Africa argued Israel’s military response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks that killed more than 1,200 people is directed not only at Hamas militants but all Palestinians in Gaza. The Palestinian Health Ministry says that more than 23,000 people have been killed by Israel’s assault on Gaza.
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