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On Wednesday, the United States and 12 other countries gave a final ultimatum to Houthi rebels, urging them to stop attacking ships in the Red Sea or risk facing specific military intervention.
Since December 19th, the militants based in Yemen have conducted a minimum of 23 attacks in retaliation to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
A high-ranking member of the Biden administration refused to specify possible actions in response to ongoing attacks, but emphasized that the Houthis, who are supported by Iran, should not expect another warning from the U.S. and its allies.
The unnamed official, who agreed to speak under the rules set by the White House, made the statement shortly after the two countries released a joint statement on Wednesday denouncing the attacks and emphasizing the strained international patience.
The United States, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom have all signed the statement.
Our statement is clear: we demand an immediate stop to these unlawful attacks and the release of unlawfully detained ships and crews. The Houthis will be held accountable for any consequences if they continue to endanger lives, the global economy, and the free flow of commerce in vital waterways in the region.
The Houthis have been announcing responsibility for assaults on vessels in the Red Sea, alleging that they are related to Israel or traveling to Israeli ports. They state that their actions are intended to put an end to Israel’s offensive actions in Gaza, which were sparked by an attack from the Palestinian militant organization Hamas on October 7th in southern Israel.
As the rebel attacks persist, the connections to the targeted ships have become less solid.
Since the October 7th attack by Hamas, there have been targeted assaults on commercial ships passing through the crucial Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects markets in Asia and Europe. These attacks occurred during Israel’s war against the militant group in Gaza.
The U.S. and its allies have formed Operation Prosperity Guardian to protect ship traffic, and currently, warships from the United States, France, and the United Kingdom are patrolling the area. On Sunday, U.S. helicopters opened fire on Houthi rebels after they attacked a cargo ship in the Red Sea, killing several of them.
According to U.S. Central Command, the U.S. Navy helicopters engaged in self-defense and successfully sank three of the four boats, resulting in the deaths of those on board. The fourth boat fled the scene. The Houthis have confirmed that 10 of their fighters died in the encounter and have issued a warning of potential repercussions.
In recent weeks, American vessels have successfully intercepted multiple Houthi ballistic missiles and one-way explosive drones.
President Joe Biden is working to prevent the ongoing three-month conflict between Israel and Hamas from spreading and becoming a larger regional issue. However, a government representative emphasized that the United States and its allies will respond in a similar manner to any harmful actions that affect international trade anywhere in the world.
According to the official, any potential response to the Houthis will be approached in a strategic manner to avoid getting deeply involved with Iran and its proxy groups.
Last week, President Biden authorized US airstrikes on militia groups supported by Iran, specifically Kataib Hezbollah, in response to a drone attack that injured three American service members in northern Iraq.
In November, American fighter jets targeted a Kataib Hezbollah base and center of operations, as well as a command and control hub, in response to a short-range ballistic missile assault on U.S. troops at Al-Assad Air Base in the western region of Iraq. In addition, militias supported by Iran carried out a drone assault at the same air base in October, resulting in minor injuries.
Source: independent.co.uk
