By Karam Makkaoui | Staff Writer
The Houthi rebels in Yemen, officially known as Ansar Allah, first appeared in the 1990s championing the Zaidis, a Shai Muslim minority in Yemen. Affiliated with the Iranian-led “axis of resistance,” the group, also called the Houthis, has been involved in armed conflict and territorial disputes, especially with Ali Abdullah Saleh, Yemen’s longstanding authoritarian president. The group’s dominance over significant locations, including the capital, Sanaa, has resulted in tensions in the region and external intervention.
Recently, the Houthi rebels have increased their attacks in the Red Sea, focusing on ships they claim are owned, operated, or registered by Israel. The Houthis have managed to take control of a commercial ship and have attacked over twenty more ships with the use of drones, missiles, and speedboats, even though US-led naval forces have successfully blocked several of these attacks. Due to this, significant shipping corporations have had to reroute their ships, staying out of the Red Sea, which is a crucial route for over 15% of all seaborne trade worldwide.
According to BBC News, the Houthis have escalated their role in the Gaza Strip warfare by launching missiles and drones towards Israel. Ships with ties to or bound for Israeli ports are purportedly the target of the attacks. However, the reality is that a large number of the vessels targeted lack these connections to Israel. To prevent further attacks on maritime routes, the US and the UK have coordinated airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen in reaction to the Houthi rebels’ operations in the Red Sea.
The missile facilities, drone storage, launch sites, radar systems, and other Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist bases were among the more than 60 targets that encountered attacks. The United States of America and the United Kingdom claim that these strikes are in retaliation for the attacks that are endangering trade and the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. Both UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and US President Joe Biden have supported the military measures, arguing that they are reasonable and essential to safeguard international shipping. The Houthi rebels, however, have not wavered and have stated that the strikes have not discouraged them.
According to BBC correspondent Jonathan Beale, there have been recorded losses among both civilians and Houthi militants despite the military strikes. Concerns over the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Yemen are raised by the conflict’s death toll as well as the interruption of trade brought on by changes in shipping routes. The international community must strike a balance as the crisis develops between maintaining trade routes, guaranteeing regional stability, and resolving the fundamental problems that give rise to the war.
In conclusion, major international reactions have been sparked by the Houthi rebels’ operations in the Red Sea and their growing engagement in the Gaza War, especially from the US and the UK. The stated goal of the airstrikes on Houthi targets is to safeguard international commercial interests and prevent more attacks on coastal channels. However, the complexity of the situation, coupled with the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Yemen, underscores the need for a comprehensive and peaceful resolution. The casualties and disruptions highlight the urgent requirement for concerted efforts to address the root causes of the conflict and promote regional stability.
Sources:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67955727
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67614911
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/yemen-s-houthis-claim-to-attack-israel-bound-ship-in-red-sea/3099409#
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/18/us-launches-new-strikes-on-houthi-targets-in-yemen