U.S. considers striking Houthis over attacks on merchant ships
U.S. considers striking Houthis over attacks on merchant ships (photo: Getty Images)
The Pentagon is discussing the possibility of direct strikes on Houthi rebel military targets in Yemen. This should be a response to attacks on military and commercial vessels in the Red Sea, states Semafor.
"U.S. officials say they’re weighing a strike on the Houthis," the newspaper reports, citing sources in the White House.
Joe Biden's administration is increasingly concerned that the Houthis and their Iranian allies are trying to disrupt international maritime trade with Israel, and thus increase the costs of the United States and its allies in supporting the country.
"Already, some global shipping lines are diverting their cargo traffic away from the Red Sea and Suez Canal to routes circling the Horn of Africa, which significantly increases transit times and costs," the report says.
At the same time, Semafor continues, the Biden administration has repeatedly stated that its priority is not to retaliate, but to support Israel's campaign to oust Hamas from the Gaza Strip.
Houthi attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea
Since November, Yemeni Houthis have been attacking merchant ships in the Red Sea that allegedly have ties to Israel.
On December 16, a British destroyer used a Sea Viper missile to shoot down a drone that was trying to attack a merchant ship in the Red Sea.
Earlier in the week, a Houthi ground-launched cruise missile hit the commercial tanker Strinda. The vessel was seriously damaged and a fire broke out on board. The Norwegian-flagged ship was transporting vegetable oil and biofuel from Malaysia to Venice.
Earlier, the Houthis shot down an American MQ-9 military drone off the coast of Yemen.
