The Yemeni Houthi rebels have been attacking ships in the Red Sea, causing a sharp rise in the risk to commercial shipping in the region. The missile attacks on three bulk carriers in the Red Sea by Yemeni Houthi rebels on December 3rd marked a sharp rise in the risk to commercial shipping in the region . The attacks caused no injuries and fairly minor damage to the three ships. America’s Central Command said it was considering “appropriate responses” to the attacks, which had been “fully enabled by Iran”.
Why are the Houthis attacking ships in the Red Sea?
The Houthis are using their control of Yemen’s western seaboard, including ports such as Hodeidah, to mount attacks on what they regard as shipping linked to Israel . The missile attacks on the ships are being co-ordinated by Brigadier-General Abdolreza Shahlaei, a veteran commander of Iran’s expeditionary Quds force . The hope in Tehran is that the attacks will drive up oil and shipping prices, putting pressure on Israel’s allies to rein it in .
What is the strategic opportunity for the Houthis?
The attacks also mark a strategic opportunity for the Houthis—in a number of ways. First, by linking them to Israel’s assault on Hamas in Gaza, the Houthis can improve their standing in the Arab world, where the Palestinian cause remains popular and emotions are running high . The attacks let the Houthis show, as they always claim, that they are on the side of the oppressed. Moreover, they can hit a range of targets, not just ones at home or in Saudi Arabia . Second, they send out a clear signal that the Red Sea is now a legitimate theatre for the struggle against Israel and that the Houthis are even willing to go after American warships as well as commercial shipping that may have some relationship with Israel, however tenuous .
What is the role of Iran in these attacks?
The missiles were undoubtedly supplied by Iran and the attacks would have been welcomed by its government, but the Houthis may well have been acting off their own bat . The sophistication of the attacks also shows that the Houthis are very far from being a raggle-taggle group of warriors, as they have sometimes been described . The Houthis have received a huge number of anti-ship missiles and drones from Iran. They have also seized and adapted some from Yemen’s regular army .
Conclusion
The Yemeni Houthi rebels are attacking ships in the Red Sea to put pressure on Israel’s allies to rein it in. The attacks are being coordinated by Brigadier-General Abdolreza Shahlaei, a veteran commander of Iran’s expeditionary Quds force. The Houthis are using their control of Yemen’s western seaboard, including ports such as Hodeidah, to mount attacks on what they regard as shipping linked to Israel. The missiles were undoubtedly supplied by Iran and the attacks would have been welcomed by its government, but the Houthis may well have been acting off their own bat. The sophistication of the attacks also shows that the Houthis are very far from being a raggle-taggle group of warriors, as they have sometimes been described. The Houthis have received a huge number of anti-ship missiles and drones from Iran. They have also seized and adapted some from Yemen’s regular army. The attacks also mark a strategic opportunity for the Houthis. By linking them to Israel’s assault on Hamas in Gaza, the Houthis can improve their standing in the Arab world, where the Palestinian cause remains popular and emotions are running high. The attacks let the Houthis show, as they always claim, that they are on the side of the oppressed. Moreover, they can hit a range of targets, not just ones at home or in Saudi Arabia. Second, they send out a clear signal that the Red Sea is now a legitimate theatre for the struggle against Israel and that the Houthis are even willing to go after American warships as well as commercial shipping that may have some relationship with Israel, however tenuous .
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