According to multiple reports, the Pentagon plans to take action against the Houthis in order to avoid further threats. The Houthis' support for Hamas is very evident, and they have carried out numerous strikes on Israeli cities using medium-range cruise missiles and ballistic missiles. Although the effectiveness of the strike is not clear, the attitude and position of the Houthis are obvious. In addition, the Houthis have carried out numerous attacks on Israeli-flagged merchant ships in the Red Sea, and the United States has sent destroyers to escort them. However, the Houthi ballistic missiles landed only 11 nautical miles from the US destroyer, and the slightest deviation could lead to an attack on the US ship. Israel sent advanced Saar-6 frigates to escort the escort, but it failed to stop the Houthi attack, and Britain and France joined the escort.
Faced with the threat of ballistic missiles from the Houthis, the United States plans to form a joint maritime fleet to protect merchant ships and defend against Houthi attacks. However, at the moment, the effect of this initiative is not obvious. The Houthi ballistic missile actually hit a container ship, which is the world's first precedent for a ballistic missile to hit a moving target at sea. At present, the U.S. response to the Houthis is limited, and the reconnaissance capabilities of the Combined Fleet are unable to stop the Houthis attack. In addition, the Houthis' maritime aerial reconnaissance and strike capabilities have improved significantly, with frequent rounds of ballistic missile, rocket, and drone attacks. Just defending at sea, the Houthis can still carry out multiple strikes on sea targets using various ** equipment, according to their own intentions.
If the Houthis launch a large-scale series of attacks, the probability of being attacked against US, Israeli, and British and French ships will gradually increase. Therefore, the United States considers the increase reasonable to deter the Houthis from supporting Hamas, ensuring the safety of merchant ships in the Red Sea, and striking at Houthi targets. Carrying out detailed strikes on Houthi missile positions and ground facilities through aerial reconnaissance, including attacks by cruise missiles on land, and inflicting some damage on Houthi bases and main targets, is the only way for the United States to fundamentally contain the Houthis. In short, if there is a real war against the Houthis, it may get bogged down. The United States also said that by striking at the Houthis, it has warned Tehran that Iran is behind the anti-American actions in the neighborhood. Hamas's rocket attacks, as well as the Houthi armament, are almost all related to Iran.
In this case, attacks against Israeli and American bases in the Middle East could escalate if the Houthis are hit. The Houthis are ubiquitous, especially around the Persian Gulf, and they have demonstrated their strength by carrying out numerous attacks on Saudi and American facilities. If various sneak attacks are launched against the United States, the Houthis will also carefully arrange and shoot. They would not have supported Hamas in such a high-profile manner, nor would they have carried out strikes knowing that there was an American escort. The Houthis may use all sorts of ** equipment in the shadows to launch strikes against US bases and personnel. The U.S. could be in a difficult situation, and in the event of an attack on the Houthis, it could be retaliated against from multiple points. Therefore, the dilemma of the United States in the Middle East may have just begun.