US says Houthis struck ships at least 50 times

The Houthis, intensifies their attacks on civilian and military ships in strategic waters off Yemen, launching at least 50 attacks since late last year

The Houthis have intensified their assaults on civilian and military ships in the strategic waters off Yemen, launching attacks at least 50 times since late last year, a senior US Defense Department official.

Assistant Secretary of Defense Celeste Wallander disclosed the escalating frequency of attacks during a Thursday hearing before the House Armed Services Committee. Wallander emphasized the Houthis’ targeting of commercial shipping and naval vessels in the Red Sea, a crucial channel for global trade.

The Iran-backed Houthis initiated their maritime campaign in November, primarily targeting ships traversing the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. Their stated motive is to express solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Still, their attacks have triggered disruptions in maritime traffic and led to soaring insurance costs for vessels navigating the region.

“The Houthis seek to affect this vital channel for global trade with at least 50 attacks against commercial shipping and naval vessels,” Wallander informed the committee.

Despite US and British airstrikes aimed at diminishing the Houthis’ capacity to conduct such assaults, the rebels remain undeterred. General Erik Kurilla, responsible for US forces in the Middle East, noted the challenges in curbing the Houthis’ activities.

“Only two ships can resupply the vast majority of the equipment that we’ve destroyed so far of the Houthis,” General Kurilla remarked during the hearing.

Efforts to intercept vessels heading into Hodeida, a port controlled by the Houthis in Yemen, are being emphasized to curb the flow of supplies to the rebels. Additionally, there’s a call to ramp up international efforts to isolate the Houthis and impose costs on Iran, their main supporter.

The persistence of Houthi attacks underscores the complexities faced by the US and its allies in the region, as they grapple with security threats and seek to maintain the integrity of critical maritime routes.

Source: AFP