Editorial Board
Washington Post, Jan. 13, 2024
“Iran is the Houthis’ main weapons supplier, so it’s difficult to believe the militia would take such a dramatic step as targeting commercial shipping without the knowing acquiescence, if not outright encouragement, of Tehran.”
The U.S.-led airstrikes against targets in the Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen represent a new level of American involvement in the Middle East upheaval that began Oct. 7. Some regional analysts are already warning that the action plays into the Houthis’ hands, and risks igniting a wider Middle East conflagration, without much chance of having their intended effect: to deter further Houthi attacks on international shipping.
Precisely the opposite is true. The Houthis already escalated the regional conflict, by using the pretext of Israel’s war with Hamas to launch unprovoked attacks against commercial ships traversing the Red Sea. The United States and its coalition allies — Britain, Canada, Australia, the Netherlands and Bahrain — had little choice but to mount a strong response. And this coalition employed just the right amount of proportionate firepower. If the Biden administration could be faulted for anything, it is that the same effort taken sooner might have had greater effect.
The Houthis are one of several Iran-backed militias — others operate in Lebanon, Iraq and Syria — that have been attacking Israeli and U.S. targets as a way to support yet another Iran-backed militia, Hamas, in its war against Israel. The Houthis launched dozens of drone and missile attacks against commercial vessels in one of the world’s most vital shipping lanes. Remember, these are not warships — they are container vessels ferrying food, oil, natural gas, automotive supplies, toys, furniture and household appliances between Asia and Europe. Some 12 percent of global trade uses that route, and shipping companies have been forced to take a much longer passage around Africa’s southern tip — adding extra days and higher costs. … [To read the full article, click here]