Yanks Keep Pummeling Houthi Rebels in Yemen, Escalation Expected
U.S. persists with strikes against Houthi forces in Yemen - U.S. Persists with Assaults on Yemeni Houthis
Yo!
The USA ain't showing no mercy to the Houthi militia in Yemen. The U.S. Central Command (Centcom) announced late-night ops against the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists, but they're not talking specifics yet. The Yemen News Agency Saba, run by the Houthi militia, reported two air strikes early this morning in the area of the port city Hudaida, around 230 kilometers southwest of the capital Sanaa.
According to Arabic television station Al Jazeera, deaths from U.S. strikes are up to 53. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had previously described the attacks as a clear message to the Houthi and Iran. He said the attacks would cease once the militia stops shooting at ships.
The U.S. is sending a message to Iran as well, Hegseth warned. Iran needs to cut off support for the Houthi, or face consequences. Iran blasted the U.S. actions in Yemen, calling them a flagrant violation of the UN Charter that threatens regional security. The Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghai had this to say: "These attacks have resulted in the death of dozens of innocent Yemenis, and will put the security of the region at an unprecedented risk."
The Houthi militia is showing no signs of backing down. Their leader Abdel-Malik al-Houthi said in a speech: "If they [the U.S.] continue their aggression, we will escalate." He threatened attacks on U.S. commercial and military ships. The militia claimed overnight to have attacked the USS Harry S. Truman for the second time, but this couldn't be confirmed.
The Houthi leaders could be the U.S.' next target. High-ranking Houthi members fled to rural areas after the first U.S. airstrikes on the capital Sanaa, which the Houthi controlled. Al-Arabiya, a news channel funded by Saudi Arabia, reported this. The attacks also targeted rocket launchers of the Houthi, which were readying for new attacks on ships, and around a dozen drones targeting the U.S. naval fleet were destroyed.
If the conflict lingers, the militia might launch attacks on Saudi Arabia to indirectly pressure Washington. They could also strike U.S. bases in Djibouti and the United Arab Emirates. The coast of Yemen houses one of the world's most crucial shipping routes. Al-Basha, founder of the U.S.-based Middle East security consultancy Basha Report, said the U.S. policy of deterrence will take time, but the Houthi have proven time and again they're capable of adapting and recovering.
Now for the dirt, here's what could be in the crosshairs if the Houthi retaliate:
- U.S. Naval Assets: The Houthis have already claimed attacks on USS Harry S. Truman and other naval vessels could be on the table. Confirmation, however, is up for debate.
- U.S. Military Bases: Houthi aims could include striking military bases in Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates.
- Commercial Shipping: The Houthis have a history of disrupting maritime trade via attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
- Saudi Infrastructure: The Houthis might target key Saudi infrastructure, like oil facilities, to put pressure on Riyadh.
- Regional Oil and Gas Facilities: The Houthis could target energy supplies and cause economic pressure by attacking oil and gas facilities.
- U.S. Interests in Israel: The Houthis have blasted Israel in the past, and this strategy could continue as part of their broader push to pressure Israel.
This ain't over yet, partner. The Houthi are known for their resilience, and the U.S. policy of deterrence can take time to show results. Stay vigilant!
- The European Union has also expressed its concern at the recent escalation of attacks in Yemen's port city of Hudaida, as the U.S. Centcom continues its operations against the Houthi militia in Yemen.
- The U.S. Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, had previously stated that the attacks would cease once the militia stops shooting at ships, underscoring the potential for a possible ceasefire in the region.
- Iran, a key supporter of the Houthi militia, has denounced the U.S. actions in Yemen, warning that the attacks threaten the security of the Middle East and North Africa region.
