USS Spruance (DDG 111), an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, sails through the US CENTCOM area of responsibility, October 3, 2024. (DVIDS)
The Pentagon’s latest strike against Houthi targets in Yemen marks another chapter in the ongoing effort to secure the Red Sea and protect global merchant shipping routes.
On Friday, US Navy ships reportedly launched Tomahawk cruise missiles at 15 Houthi targets across five different locations.
These targets included Houthi military capabilities, training camps, and weapons storage facilities.
According to Major General Pat Ryder, “initial assessments are that we had good effects on that.” But despite these strikes and ongoing US military operations in the region, Houthi rebels continue their missile and drone attacks, leaving the Red Sea far from safe.
So, before diving into the specifics of the recent strikes, let’s take a quick step back and understand who the Houthis are and why they’ve become such a central player in this conflict.
A Look at the Houthis
The Houthis, an Iranian-backed rebel group, have been a major player in Yemen’s civil war since it broke out in 2014.
Initially starting as a local rebellion against the Yemeni government, the Houthis quickly grew in strength and influence with Iran’s support. Their insurgency has destabilized Yemen, drawn in regional powers like Saudi Arabia, and resulted in countless civilian casualties.
Recently, the Houthis have been using drones and missiles to disrupt merchant traffic through the Red Sea, claiming they’re targeting Israeli-owned or Israel-backed vessels in support of Hamas. But, in reality, many of the ships hit had no ties to Israel and, in some cases, were carrying humanitarian aid.
The Pentagon’s latest strike against Houthi targets in Yemen marks another chapter in the ongoing effort to secure the Red Sea and protect global merchant shipping routes.
On Friday, US Navy ships reportedly launched Tomahawk cruise missiles at 15 Houthi targets across five different locations.
These targets included Houthi military capabilities, training camps, and weapons storage facilities.
According to Major General Pat Ryder, “initial assessments are that we had good effects on that.” But despite these strikes and ongoing US military operations in the region, Houthi rebels continue their missile and drone attacks, leaving the Red Sea far from safe.
So, before diving into the specifics of the recent strikes, let’s take a quick step back and understand who the Houthis are and why they’ve become such a central player in this conflict.
A Look at the Houthis
The Houthis, an Iranian-backed rebel group, have been a major player in Yemen’s civil war since it broke out in 2014.
Initially starting as a local rebellion against the Yemeni government, the Houthis quickly grew in strength and influence with Iran’s support. Their insurgency has destabilized Yemen, drawn in regional powers like Saudi Arabia, and resulted in countless civilian casualties.
Recently, the Houthis have been using drones and missiles to disrupt merchant traffic through the Red Sea, claiming they’re targeting Israeli-owned or Israel-backed vessels in support of Hamas. But, in reality, many of the ships hit had no ties to Israel and, in some cases, were carrying humanitarian aid.
Despite this, the Houthis have shown no signs of slowing down, and the US military has been trying to preempt these attacks for over a year now.
Tomahawk cruise missile hitting its target in Yemen’s Hodeida during yesterday’s US Navy strikes against the Houthis. pic.twitter.com/iWOzlnutGi
In January and February of this year, the US conducted two similarly-sized strikes alongside allied forces, targeting dozens of Houthi locations in Yemen.
These strikes were meant to curb the growing threat to merchant shipping, but they haven’t been enough to stop the attacks.
In fact, since the Houthis began launching missiles last October, US forces have carried out at least 50 preemptive or self-defense strikes and intercepted over 265 missile and drone attacks.
Even though these efforts have slowed the Houthis down somewhat, they haven’t entirely deterred them. This past spring, seven US Navy ships that had been involved in defending against Houthi attacks were awarded a rare combat action medal, highlighting the intensity of the operations.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted strikes on 15 Houthi targets in Iranian-backed Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen today at about 5 p.m. (Sanaa time). These targets included Houthi offensive military capabilities. These actions were taken to protect freedom of… pic.twitter.com/w8dC2lacpP
Unfortunately, despite the military efforts, the results haven’t been as effective as hoped.
Merchant shipping traffic through the Red Sea, a key route near the Suez Canal, plummeted by nearly half at the end of 2023, and it still hasn’t fully recovered.
The Houthis may not be sinking ships left and right, but their attacks have created enough of a risk to keep high-value vessels from sailing through the Red Sea.
Instead, many shipping companies are opting for detours that add time, cost, and risk to their journeys.
One maritime historian, Salvatore Mercogliano, pointed out and toldMilitary.com that “the Houthi attacks are infrequent and seldom effective, but they’ve still managed to pinch off 15% of world trade.” This is no small feat, and it highlights just how impactful even relatively minor attacks can be when it comes to global commerce.
No Full-Out War—Yet
Despite the ongoing attacks, the US isn’t seeking a full-scale war with the Houthis.
As Major General Ryder explained “We’re not seeking a full-out war with the Houthis, but we will continue to conduct strikes against the kinds of capabilities that we’ve seen them use against innocent mariners and maritime traffic as well as military vessels.”
But the situation remains tense, with little indication that the Houthis are willing to stop their attacks anytime soon.
Recent reports suggest that notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who was traded to Russia in exchange for basketball star Brittney Griner, has resumed selling arms—this time to the Houthis.
If true, this could mean an escalation in the capabilities of the Houthi rebels, making future attacks even more dangerous.
Keeping the Red Sea Open and Safe
The US military’s goal is clear: to keep the Red Sea open for safe navigation. But with the Houthis backed by Iran and potentially supplied by Russian arms dealers, this fight is far from over.
The US and its allies will need to continue their efforts to neutralize Houthi threats while avoiding a wider conflict.
In the meantime, global shipping companies will have to weigh the risks of sending their ships through a region where, as Mercogliano warned, the Houthis have managed to disrupt a significant portion of world trade.
And while further escalation isn’t on the table yet, the ongoing back-and-forth between the US and Houthi rebels shows no signs of easing up anytime soon.
Final Thoughts
The strikes against the Houthis are just one piece of a larger puzzle in Yemen’s complex civil war and the broader geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. As the US tries to keep merchant routes safe, the Houthis continue to push back. The outcome of this tug-of-war is uncertain, but one thing is clear: the stakes are high, not just for the people of Yemen but for global trade as a whole.
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