Escalation in Yemen: US Intensifies Strikes Against Houthi Rebels Amid Regional Tensions

In a marked escalation of the ongoing conflict in Yemen, the United States military has initiated fresh strikes targeting the Houthi rebels, underscoring the region's deepening crisis. This move comes a day following coordinated raids by the US and the UK on the Iran-aligned group's facilities, which have incited widespread protests and calls for retaliation.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) detailed that the strikes employed Tomahawk missiles launched from the USS Carney, aimed at a Houthi radar installation. CENTCOM labeled the operation as a direct continuation of efforts to neutralize threats posed by the Houthis, primarily focusing on preventing the group from launching assaults on merchant and military ships traversing the Red Sea.

Reports from within Yemen indicate that these military actions were not without immediate impact. Residents in the capital city of Sanaa, according to Al Jazeera's Mohammed al-Attab, experienced the detonations, taking to social media to describe the intensity of the blasts.

Contrary to social media reports, Nasreddin Amer, a Houthi deputy information secretary, declared that the US strike resulted in neither casualties nor significant damage. However, he firmly communicated the Houthis' intention to answer with a potent response.

In a distinctly confrontational stance, Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam conveyed that these attacks by the US would not impede the group's campaign against vessels associated with Israel. This statement reflects the Houthis' proclaimed support for the Palestinians, who have been under severe pressure from Israeli forces.

In a stark warning, US President Joe Biden indicated the potential for further strikes against the Houthis if they persist with what he termed "outrageous behaviour." A detailed account from the US Department of Defense outlined that the preceding night's operations included extensive munitions use, targeting over sixteen Houthi-controlled locations, encompassing weapons storage, air defenses, and command centers.

Describing the scale of the Houthis' maritime aggression, the US asserts that the rebels have executed 27 attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, highlighting the November 19 highjacking of the Galaxy Leader and its multinational crew.

Historically, these are the highest-profile US strikes in Yemen since 2016 and represent the US's first military response to the Houthi's drone and missile attacks on commercial shipping lines since the onset of Gaza's conflicts. With the Houthi movement positioned as an ally to Hamas, its endeavors in the war-torn region demonstrate a complex intertwining of regional conflicts.

The global reaction to the strikes has been disparate among major US allies. The Netherlands, Australia, Canada, and Bahrain extended logistical and intelligence support for the actions, while Germany, Denmark, New Zealand, and South Korea outwardly defended the attacks. Nonetheless, other allies like Italy, Spain, and France chose a path of non-involvement, possibly in anticipation of an expansion of hostilities.

The strikes have also spurred significant anti-US sentiment among Yemenis, who have assembled en masse across cities to protest, concurrently denouncing Israeli actions and reaffirming solidarity with Palestinians. This has resulted in severe condemnations by prominent Houthi figures, who have branded the strikes as terrorism and alluded to the US in exceptionally negative terms.

Amid these developments, questions are being raised about the Biden administration's policy, noting the 2021 decision to delist the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization. In the present context, it seems the US administration's perception may be shifting in light of recent actions by the Houthi rebels.