Biden Admits Strikes on Houthis in Yemen Not Deterring Red Sea Attacks
President Joe Biden conceded that strikes against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen are not deterring the groups' attacks in the Red Sea, as a US official told CNN the military carried out further strikes against the group in Yemen on Thursday. The ongoing pace of US strikes in Yemen underscores a willingness by the Biden administration to use force against the Houthis, something the White House had avoided doing for weeks over concerns of sparking a regional escalation. But as Houthi missile and drone launches against commercial vessels continued, including successful attacks on two US-owned and operated ships this week, the US actions against the Houthis have become a more regular occurrence.
Biden's Concession on Strikes
President Joe Biden conceded Thursday that strikes against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen are not deterring the groups' attacks in the Red Sea, as a US official told CNN the military carried out further strikes against the group in Yemen on Thursday. The fifth US attack on Houthi assets in one week targeted a small number of anti-ship missiles that were being prepared to launch against international shipping lanes, the official said. On Thursday, Biden said that strikes on the Houthis will continue - even if they aren't stopping the group from carrying out attacks. Asked at the White House if the strikes are working, the president responded: 'When you say working are they stopping the Houthis? No.' 'Are they going to continue? Yes,' he added. The strikes on Thursday are the latest in a series of actions against the Houthis, following significant US-led strikes last week with the UK, and support from a handful of other allies. They come amid heightened tensions in the Middle East and fears that the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza could further spill out into the region.
The ongoing pace of US strikes in Yemen underscores a willingness by the Biden administration to use force against the Houthis, something the White House had avoided doing for weeks over concerns of sparking a regional escalation. But as Houthi missile and drone launches against commercial vessels continued, including successful attacks on two US-owned and operated ships this week, the US actions against the Houthis have become a more regular occurrence.
US Strikes and Houthi Response
The ongoing pace of US strikes in Yemen underscores a willingness by the Biden administration to use force against the Houthis, something the White House had avoided doing for weeks over concerns of sparking a regional escalation. But as Houthi missile and drone launches against commercial vessels continued, including successful attacks on two US-owned and operated ships this week, the US actions against the Houthis have become a more regular occurrence.
The initial US-led attacks, backed by an international coalition, struck radar sites and command and control nodes, as well as the weapons the Houthis have used against international shipping lanes in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. One day later, the US targeted an additional Houthi radar site in a unilateral operation. Then on Tuesday, the US struck four anti-ship ballistic missiles, describing the actions as self-defense operations because of the imminent threat to US commercial vessels and US Navy ships. On Wednesday, the US carried out another set of strikes on 14 Houthi anti-ship missiles, using Tomahawk missiles launched from US Navy surface vessels and a guided missile submarine.
The US strikes have done little to deter the Houthis, who have kept firing missiles and drones at ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, some of the world's most critical waterways for commercial shipping. On Monday, the Houthis hit the M/V Gibraltar Eagle, a US-owned and operated bulk carrier, with an anti-ship ballistic missile in the Gulf of Aden. The vessel suffered minor damage and continued on its way. Two days later, the Houthis hit another US-owned and operated vessel, the M/V Genco Picardy, in the Gulf of Aden with a one-way attack drone. This ship also suffered minor damage and continued on its way.
Concerns and Ongoing Tensions
The ongoing pace of US strikes in Yemen underscores a willingness by the Biden administration to use force against the Houthis, something the White House had avoided doing for weeks over concerns of sparking a regional escalation. But as Houthi missile and drone launches against commercial vessels continued, including successful attacks on two US-owned and operated ships this week, the US actions against the Houthis have become a more regular occurrence.
The strikes on Thursday are the latest in a series of actions against the Houthis, following significant US-led strikes last week with the UK, and support from a handful of other allies. They come amid heightened tensions in the Middle East and fears that the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza could further spill out into the region. CNN has asked the Pentagon for comment on the latest strikes. The ongoing pace of US strikes in Yemen underscores a willingness by the Biden administration to use force against the Houthis, something the White House had avoided doing for weeks over concerns of sparking a regional escalation. But as Houthi missile and drone launches against commercial vessels continued, including successful attacks on two US-owned and operated ships this week, the US actions against the Houthis have become a more regular occurrence.
