Contributor Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg (Ret.) argues that the Biden administration needs to take more risks and pursue Iran in order to break the ‘tit for tat’ cycle with the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Despite a wave of U.S. airstrikes targeting the terror group, the Pentagon announced on Wednesday that the Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran, have maintained their ability to conduct attacks against international shipping vessels.
Last week, the U.S., along with several other nations, conducted strikes on Houthi targets in response to the group’s ongoing attacks on commercial ships in and around the Red Sea since November. Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder stated that the objective of the strikes was to disrupt and degrade Houthi capabilities to conduct attacks, and overall, the U.S. believes they have succeeded in degrading their ability to attack.
However, despite the retaliatory strikes, the Houthis launched an anti-ship ballistic missile from Yemen on Tuesday at a Maltese flagged bulk carrier called M/V Zografia, resulting in no reported injuries. Earlier that day, U.S. strikes destroyed four Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles that were prepared to launch. The following day, the group launched a one-way attack drone, damaging the U.S. owned and operated bulk carrier ship M/V Genco Picardy in the Gulf of Aden.
This recent attack marks the 34th on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November 19th and the second time a U.S. owned and operated ship has been hit by the Houthis in two days. Ryder expressed that he was not surprised by these further attacks, emphasizing that the Houthis need to consider the consequences of their actions.
The Houthis claim that their attacks are in retaliation against Israel’s military operations in the Gaza Strip. These attacks, along with recent strikes by Iran against anti-Iranian terrorist groups, have raised concerns about the potential escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict into a regional conflict. Ryder assured reporters that efforts are being made to prevent the conflict from spreading beyond Gaza.
In response to the ongoing attacks, the Biden administration plans to redesignate the Houthi rebels as a terrorist group, three years after they were removed from the Foreign Terrorist Organizations list. Placing them on the Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) list will trigger sanctions aimed at preventing further attacks on global trade in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Despite the U.S. airstrikes, the Houthi rebels continue to pose a threat to international shipping in the region. Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg (Ret.) argues for a more proactive approach from the Biden administration to break the cycle of attacks. The situation highlights the ongoing tensions in the Middle East and the need for international efforts to maintain stability and ensure the safety of trade routes.
