Rebels Claim West Will Pay for Attacks on Yemen

(ConservativeInsider.org) – The United States and the United Kingdom have launched joint attacks on Yemen, where the Iran-backed Houthi rebels have been leading attacks on cargo ships in the area for over two months. The Yemen-based Houthis claim that their attacks on ships are in response to Israel’s bombing of Gaza, as well as Western support for Israel. The Houthis claim the most recent military attack in Yemen is “barbaric” and that the West will “pay a heavy price” for them.

More than 100 missiles were launched by American and British warships and fighter jets at 60 targets in 16 different locations in Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen. Reports indicate that a military camp, an airbase, and airports were hit.

Major General Patrick Ryder, press secretary for the Department of Defense, said the Biden administration hopes that the attacks on Houthi targets will be enough to stop the Houthis from further attacks in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, as “no one” wants to launch further attacks on Yemen. The attacks from the US only occurred after Houthi rebels ignored two ultimatums given by western nations to end their attacks on ships in the area. More than 2,000 ships that were meant to pass through the area have had to change their routes to avoid attacks from the Houthis, which will cause shipping delays worldwide.

According to US intelligence officials, Iran has been giving the Houthi rebels information about shipments in the Red Sea in addition to providing them with weapons. Gerald Feierstein, the Former U.S. Ambassador to Yemen, said the retaliatory strikes from the US are unlikely to stop the Houthi attacks on ships in the region, and may have even improved Houthi standing in the area, as it makes them look like “part of the A-team” of resistance against the US and the west.

While the US-led attacks might not have been enough to deter the Houthis from further attacks, military leaders in both the UK and the US seem unconcerned, as Houthis would need a “lucky strike” to cause any real damage due to their lack of infrastructure.