Biden Concedes Strikes on Houthis Haven't Stopped Attacks, Vows to Continue

Facts

• US Pres. Joe Biden admitted on Thursday that strikes on Houthi assets have so far failed to deter the Iran-aligned Yemeni rebels from carrying out attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, but asserted that strikes would continue.¹
• A day later, the White House announced that three self-defense strikes against anti-ship missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen had been successful, marking the fourth 'preemptive action' against Houthi missile launchers in the past week.²
• This comes as the Houthis have reportedly launched more than 30 attacks on merchant ships in the region since late November, including one on Thursday night against the Marshal Island-flagged, Greek-operated M/V Chem Ranger tanker ship that was unsuccessful.³
• On Wednesday, the Biden administration once again placed the militia on its list of specially designated global terrorists after it had been delisted in 2021, paving the way for economic and political sanctions against the Houthis.⁴
• However, this re-designation will not take effect for another 30 days so as to incentivize the Houthis to cease their attacks both in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. According to White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, the US will re-evaluate the decision if attacks are halted.⁵
• The Houthis, whose leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi on Thursday said that being 'in direct confrontation' with the Israel, the US ,and UK was a 'great honor,' claim their actions against vessels transiting through one of the world's most important shipping lanes are in response to Israel's military campaign in Gaza.⁶

Sources: ¹CNN, ²ABC News, ³The Hill, ⁴Intercept, ⁵Al Jazeera and ⁶BBC News.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by The Messenger. The international community must rally to counter the Houthi rebels. While the US defensive responses to the continued attacks in the Red Sea have been impressively executed, only proactive military action will end the terrorization of shipping routes. Unless the head of the snake is cut off, the Iran-backed rebels will continue to increase the gravity of their illegal activities. The US and its allies must use force to provide a definitive end to the Red Sea chaos before even more harm is caused, and conflict expands to a wider war.
• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Hürriyet Daily News. From the onset, the Houthis have made it very clear what they want: Israel must put an end to the carnage in Gaza. As the international community doesn't raise a finger to support Palestinians, the group has taken it upon themselves to increase the stakes for the war. Any ship connected to Israel will be attacked. And as US and UK warships frequently target the Houthis, ships connected to these countries are likewise open game.

Predictions