Houthi attacks prompt some companies to suspend crossings from the Red Sea (Reuters)
The U.S. military plans to respond to attacks by Houthi militants in Yemen against commercial ships in the Red Sea, U.S. officials say.
The plans include striking Houthi targets in Yemen to respond to the possibility of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip turning into a long-term regional conflict, Politico quoted officials as saying, noting that President Joe Biden's administration is in talks on scenarios that could drag Washington into a war in the Middle East.
U.S. officials stressed that Washington has been urging Iran behind the scenes since the outbreak of the war in Gaza to convince its proxies to reduce their attacks without signs of these groups scaling back attacks, pointing to the possibility of expanding the scope of the conflict after the confrontations in Iraq, Lebanon and Iran in recent days.
The Houthis have been firing wave after wave of drones and missiles at Israeli or Israel-bound commercial ships since November 19, 2023, to protest Israel's three-month aggression on the Gaza Strip.
Disable and suspend
The Houthi attacks have disrupted international shipping and prompted some companies to suspend crossings from the Red Sea, replacing them with a longer and more expensive journey around Africa.
According to Reuters, repeated Houthi attacks have increased pressure on President Joe Biden to respond militarily, something his administration is reluctant to do, fearing an escalation of already worsening regional tensions.
In December, the United States and other countries launched Operation Guardian of Prosperity to protect ships targeted by the Houthis in the Red Sea.
Source: Politico