The U.S. Department of Defense is said to be considering whether to directly attack the pro-Iran Yemeni rebels Houthis, who are increasing the level of provocations in the Red Sea under the pretext of supporting the Palestinian armed political faction Hamas. U.S. media outlet Sema Citing multiple U.S. government officials, Semafor reported on the 16th that the U.S. government is having such discussions due to concerns that the Houthis and Iran are trying to harm global maritime trade.
According to reports, officials are weighing their decision-making with the possibility that a direct U.S. attack on the Houthis could escalate into a broader war against Iran and other pro-Iranian armed groups. So far, U.S. officials have emphasized that they are focusing only on supporting the Israeli battle to eradicate Hamas as their top priority but have expressed their stance that they are not ruling out more offensive military operations. U.S. Department of Defense spokesman Patrick Ryder emphasized this week, “We will not hesitate to act when we deem it necessary, including to defend against activities in the maritime domain that threaten our military.”
This discussion by the United States came as the Houthis, who are hostile to Israel and the United States, have repeatedly targeted civilian ships in the Red Sea, a major trade route, due to their support for Palestine.
The Houthis have attacked civilian ships in the past 10 years. Since the Israel-Hamas war began on February 7, civilian ships have been attacked in a bid to retaliate and pressure Israel. Initially, ships related to Israel were attacked, but since last week, they have been targeting ships from Norway, Hong Kong, and Liberia. The target of attacks was expanded by targeting ships not directly related to the war.
Large shipping companies, concerned about indiscriminate attacks by the Houthis, suspended or considered suspending operations through the Red Sea. We are struggling to respond.US officials believe that the Houthi attacks are aimed at disrupting trade entering Israel and increasing the cost of support for Israel by the US and its allies.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the entrance to the Red Sea, is connected to the Suez Canal and is a major maritime transportation route, accounting for about 30% of the world’s maritime container traffic and 12% of the merchandise trade volume.
The number of ships passing through this route, which is the passage for most of the oil and natural gas produced in the Persian Gulf and exported to Europe and North America, reaches 20,000 per year. However, the US attack on the Houthis is strategic.
Many former Defense Department officials believed that the United States had no choice but to attack the Houthis if it wanted to maintain the flow of global trade, Semafor reported. Reserve Admiral John Miller, who commanded the U.S. Navy in the Middle East, emphasized, “We will not succeed until we make the Houthis pay (for their attacks).”
On the other hand, other former and current Defense Ministry officials warned that they could face greater danger if they attack the Houthis. ‘Resistance against the West There are concerns that attacking the Houthis could result in simultaneous retaliation from multiple places because there are solidarity armed forces claiming to be part of the ‘axis’. US Special Operations in the Middle East Michael Nagata, a reserve lieutenant general who commanded the unit, said, “Right now, Iran is in the strongest strategic position,” and pointed out, “This is bad timing.” If the United States were to kill the Houthis, if there is a direct attack, it will be the first time in 7 years since 2016.
The United States launched a Tomahawk cruise missile in retaliation for the Houthis’ missile attack on a US Navy destroyer in October 2016, targeting the Houthis’ coastal radar. Part of the facility was destroyed.