Although the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has not yet settled, a fierce wrestling is quietly unfolding in the Red Sea. The focus is now on whether the United States and its allies can cut out the unease over the Red Sea and ensure the safe passage of merchant ships in this historic sea. The United States is reportedly responding and establishing a joint patrol network as the Houthis frequently use drones and ballistic missiles in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden pose a growing threat to the security of merchant ships. The trigger for this series of events was the Houthi raids. These attacks not only affect the safety of passing merchant ships, but also pose a serious challenge to the safety of international maritime transport. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced the new mission in a public address in Bahrain and made it clear that this is an international challenge that requires collective action. He also revealed the list of allies involved in the program, including the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Xihui. This astonishing list of combined forces undoubtedly heralds a storm on the horizon in the Red Sea. However, the situation is not so simple, and the Houthi position seems to have cast a shadow over the operation.
They stressed that they are ready to confront any coalition forces that may appear in the Red Sea. In other words, it looks like the Houthis will continue to carry out attacks. Of course, this statement is full of provocations, and at the same time reflects the complexity of the current military geopolitics. On the surface, the joint U.S. patrol operation appears to be only for the safety of the vessel, however, the meaning behind it is far from what it seems. The so-called "international challenge" represents, to some extent, a game between the United States and the Houthis. The reasons why countries have supported the new mission of the United States can be roughly summarized in two aspects: first, it is to ensure the unimpeded flow of international routes, especially for those countries that are highly dependent on the sea transportation of oil and gas resources;Second, through this form of cooperation, countries can demonstrate their military presence and regional influence, which is crucial to enhancing their international standing and strategic influence. For the Houthis, however, the implementation of joint patrols has undoubtedly put an obstacle on their doorstep. This is both a threat and a challenge for them. The Houthi response could further exacerbate the situation and even trigger more intense confrontation and conflict.
With the security situation in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden becoming increasingly tense, the international community needs to remain on high alert in particular. In such an environment, military Xi and patrol operations are likely to touch sensitive nerves, leading to a series of chain reactions. Therefore, how to maintain a balance between the parties and avoid unnecessary friction obviously requires careful consideration. It is foreseeable that the situation in the Red Sea may be more volatile in the future. While joint patrols may seem like a stabilizing remedy, they can stir up the sea and cause bigger storms. In this game, the actions of each participant are full of calculation and strategy, and the outcome is difficult to predict in advance. In addition to proposing joint patrols in the Red Sea, the United States is also considering strikes against the Houthis. Today, the situation in the Red Sea is unpredictable. The Pentagon appears to be preparing a precision strike against Houthi ground targets, which will begin soon. Like a hidden pawn on a chessboard, this move will undoubtedly reshuffle the situation in the Middle East. However, difficulties have ensued, and will the United States be able to turn the tide on its own?Maybe it will accidentally touch a deeper "minefield"?
As the Israeli-Palestinian conflict escalates, the Houthis' public support for Hamas has not only become more apparent, but they have also frequently used cruise and ballistic missiles to attack Israeli cities. Although these attacks did not have the desired effect, they undoubtedly conveyed a firm position. The Houthis have even launched a series of attacks on Israeli-flagged merchant ships, making U.S. air defenses appear inadequate. Despite the U.S. military sending destroyers to escort the ship, the Houthi ballistic missile went down 11 nautical miles from the U.S. ship, almost as a warning to the U.S. that your safety net is not strong. At the same time, Israel also sent four frigates, but it was still unable to stop this round of attacks. International cooperation seems to have become the only option for the United States to deal with the current threat, and Britain and France have joined the American camp. However, the formation of a joint maritime patrol fleet has not been as effective as it could have been in the fight against the Houthi ballistic missiles, and the protection of passing merchant ships has not been as effective as it could have been. So far, the Houthis have managed to hit a moving container ship, which is rare in the world.
This is undoubtedly a miracle for an armed group that is not very strong. The United States appears to be somewhat at a loss, and in the face of the Houthis' apparent advances in maritime and aerial reconnaissance capabilities, as well as their frequent ballistic missile and drone attacks, the existing reconnaissance and defense systems are clearly inadequate. If the next Houthi launch a "drone swarm" offensive, a series of attacks by hundreds of drones could put ships of the United States and Israel to a severe test. Therefore, the United States believes that the Houthis must be fundamentally weakened, not only to support Israel, but also to ensure the safety of merchant ships in the Red Sea region. According to the analysis, the US military may be able to deal an effective blow to the infrastructure of the Houthis through detailed aerial reconnaissance, locking on missile launchers and ground facilities, and using air strikes and cruise missile attacks. It is widely believed that if the United States does take military action against the Houthis in the Middle East, it will not only be a blow to an armed group, but could also trigger a larger regional conflict. Once the U.S. military is involved in this chaos, the consequences are unimaginable.
It should be pointed out that this move by the United States is also seen as a warning to Iran that any anti-American or anti-Israeli forces that have Iran's support behind them will have nowhere to escape.