The U.S. has launched a military operation against Yemen’s Houthis, following their attacks on Red Sea shipping that resulted in casualties. President Trump has warned Iran to cease support for the Houthis. Experts express concerns that the Houthis may not yield easily to U.S. military pressure, and call for restraint to avoid worsening Yemen’s humanitarian crisis.
The United States has initiated a significant military offensive against Yemen’s Houthis, aligning with heightened tensions in the region since President Donald Trump’s tenure commenced. This operation responds to Houthi assaults on Red Sea shipping, resulting in the death of at least 53 individuals, including women and children, and numerous injuries, as reported by the Houthi-run health ministry.
In this context, President Trump issued a warning to Iran, the primary supporter of the Houthis, emphasizing that if Iran posed a threat to the United States, it would be held “fully accountable” for its actions. Furthermore, Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi declared that attacks on U.S. vessels in the Red Sea would persist as long as U.S. military operations continued against Yemen.
The Houthis, a Shiite Muslim rebel group, captured Yemen’s capital, Sana’a, in 2014 and have subsequently maintained significant control over the region amidst ongoing civil conflict. Originally, the group emerged in the late 1990s as a religious revivalist movement due to marginalization in northern Yemen, and friction with the central government led to their current insurgency status.
Experts note the Houthis have utilized the Gaza conflict to bolster their legitimacy by asserting their solidarity with Palestinians against perceived American aggression. Dr. Sarah Phillips from the University of Sydney highlights this strategy as a distraction from local issues faced by the Yemeni populace.
The Houthis have attacked shipping routes in the Red Sea, endorsing support for Hamas and prompting international responses to protect global maritime trade, which is vital to economic stability. Following a brief period of calm, the Houthis announced in March their intention to resume military operations, and in response, President Trump authorized targeted airstrikes against Houthi positions in Yemen.
Trump emphasized that U.S. military operations would provide “overwhelming lethal force” to safeguard American maritime interests. However, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard asserted the Houthis’ independence in operational decisions, cautioning that any U.S. action might provoke a severe response from Iran.
Consequently, Dr. Phillips suggests that the Houthis are resilient and prepared to withstand U.S. military pressure without significantly altering their tactics. UN Secretary-General António Guterres further urged for restraint, noting that escalating military actions could have detrimental effects on Yemen’s humanitarian crisis.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed concerns regarding Iranian support of the Houthis, framing it as a warning that those who back the rebels would be accountable for their acts against international shipping.
In summary, the U.S. military offensive against Yemen’s Houthis is a response to a series of attacks on maritime trade, compounded by geopolitical tensions involving Iran. The Houthis’ historical narrative and regional strategies play a crucial role in sustaining their campaign, as experts predict resilience in their response to U.S. actions. As developments unfold, international leaders call for restraint to mitigate the humanitarian consequences in Yemen.
Original Source: www.abc.net.au
