US Increases Strikes on Yemen’s Houthis Amid Rising Tensions with Israel
The United States has escalated airstrikes on targets in Yemen as part of an ongoing campaign to combat the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, who have been launching assaults on both military and commercial vessels in the region, the Washington Post reports.
These strikes come at a time when the US and Israel, both involved in the Middle East conflict, are struggling to manage the growing influence and aggression of the Houthis, a group that has increasingly positioned itself as a symbol of resistance against Israel and the West.
US Central Command confirmed that new airstrikes hit facilities in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa and coastal areas, targeting a command node and sites involved in weapon manufacturing and storage. The attacks are part of a broader effort by the US to disrupt the Houthis’ regional campaign, which has disrupted global shipping and caused significant economic harm to US allies in the region.
Israel, for its part, has joined the military response, launching its own strikes on Houthi positions, particularly following missile and drone attacks on Israel. While these attacks were mostly intercepted, they have caused some civilian damage, prompting Israeli officials to vow further actions against the group. The Houthis, who have aligned themselves with Iran, are increasingly seen as a major player in the region, and their growing attacks on Israel have heightened tensions.
Despite over a year of multinational strikes, experts caution that the Houthis remain resolute in their objectives, portraying themselves as leaders of a larger movement against Israeli and American influence in the Middle East. This rise in stature has only fueled the Houthis’ ideological drive, making it harder for military efforts to decisively deter them.
Humanitarian organizations have raised alarms about the devastating impact these military actions are having on civilians in Yemen, a country already reeling from a decade-long civil war. Recent Israeli airstrikes on key infrastructure, such as ports and power plants, have worsened conditions for Yemenis, making it even harder for them to access food, electricity, and medical aid.
Mohammed Albasha, a Yemen analyst, noted that while US strikes have been more focused on Houthi military assets, Israeli actions have targeted broader infrastructure in areas under Houthi control, leading to severe disruptions in the availability of imported goods. These moves have crippled essential transport systems, including tugboats at major ports, impeding commercial shipping and further deteriorating the country’s fragile economy.
The Biden administration has publicly supported Israel’s right to respond to Houthi aggression but has also issued a call for more care in avoiding harm to civilian infrastructure.
