US Strikes Down Houthi Missile

Facts

• The US military on Sunday said it had shot down a missile fired by Houthi militants. The missile was reportedly deterred as it headed toward the USS Laboon in the Red Sea. This is the first known attack on US forces by the Yemeni group since the US launched air strikes on Yemen.¹
• US Central Command (CENTCOM) claimed on Monday that the Houthis fired the anti-ship ballistic missile on the M/V Gibraltar Eagle, which is Marshall Islands-flagged and US-owned. While the missile failed and the ship wasn't damaged, conflict with the Houthis has escalated after the US and its allies conducted a coordinated attack last Thursday, killing at least five people.²
• The US and UK have launched air strikes on the Iran-backed militia as tensions have grown since the start of Israel's war in Gaza. Earlier on Sunday, Houthi spokesman Mohammad Abdulsalam claimed that an 'enemy' aircraft, likely from the US, violated Yemen’s sovereignty by flying close to the country’s airspace and coastal areas.³
• CENTCOM said that no injuries or damage had been reported. Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a missile fired from Yemen hit an American-owned commercial ship in the Gulf of Aden. While the attack is still being investigated, US and UK officials quickly speculated the Houthis were responsible.⁴
• Last week, the US and UK hit 60 targets across 28 Houthi-controlled areas and, on Saturday, the US Navy followed up its strikes by hitting a Houthi radar site 'to degrade the Houthi’s ability to attack maritime vessels.' Houthi and Iranian leaders condemned the attacks, with the Houthis saying they will confront 'American aggression.'⁵
• The Houthis have reportedly been attacking US cargo ships in the Red Sea with the aim of pressuring Israel into a ceasefire in Gaza. The recent air strikes and a growing risk of conflict with Iran and Lebanon have sparked fears about regional war with the West.⁶

Sources: ¹Al Jazeera (a), ²ABC News, ³US News & World Report, ⁴USA Today, ⁵Verity and ⁶Al Jazeera (b).

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Atlantic Council. The US and its allies are right to respond to Houthi militants attacking Western ships and undermining security in the region. The Biden administration is sending a strong message that Iran-backed proxies cannot indiscriminately attack American and other cargo ships with impunity. While rebel groups may not have the strongest military prowess, they cannot be overlooked, and resisting handling militant groups like the Houthis only emboldens Iran to push conflict further. Western allies need to send a clear message that they will not be pushed over in the Middle East.
• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by CounterPunch. The US and UK are blazing full-speed ahead towards a regional war in the Middle East. Ever since Israel began its brutal campaign in Gaza, Western forces, led by their imperial leader in Washington, have continued to meddle in the area and promote another destructive war. Besides supporting Israel’s genocide of Palestinians, Washington is looking to bring Iran into the conflict, furthering instability and chaos. The war machine is yearning for another decades-long war, and the air strikes in Yemen are just part of a broader plan to continue US entanglement in the Middle East.

Predictions