Recently, Yemen's Houthi spokesman Yahya Sarrea issued a statement, saying that the Houthis were attacked by the US ** team while carrying out their "maritime mission", resulting in the death or disappearance of 10 maritime fighters. He said that the US military should bear the consequences for this and called on other countries not to participate in the US operation, as this could trigger negative consequences and affect everyone.
The Houthi statement is a response to the US side saying a day ago. The U.S. Navy said that the U.S. Navy found four "suspicious" small boats in the southern part of the Red Sea, three of which were believed to be unmanned boats of the Houthis and carried ** devices, which could threaten international shipping. The statement said that the U.S. military "sank three of the ships in self-defense, killing the crew of the opposing side, and the fourth boat escaped from the sea area where the incident occurred." No U.S. personnel or equipment were damaged. However, the US side did not say how it knew that the crews of the three ships that were sunk were dead.
This is the latest clash between the United States and the Houthis, and the first exchange of fire since the United States formed a multinational force in the Red Sea to respond to Houthi attacks. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced on December 19 that the United States is working with the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain to form an international coalition called the Multinational Security Initiative to protect maritime navigation in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden and to deter Houthi attacks on incoming and outgoing ships.
This move by the United States is being carried out against the backdrop of the outbreak of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The Houthis, an ally of Iran, have been in solidarity with the Palestinian Hamas group and have launched numerous missile and drone attacks against Israel and its allies. The Houthis have also announced that they will attack all ships in the Red Sea bound for Israel, regardless of their owners. Since November 19, a total of 55 ships have reportedly decided to change their course and no longer pass through the Red Sea. The actions of the Houthis have had a serious impact on international shipping, causing dissatisfaction and concern in the United States and other countries.
The Houthis have taken a hard line on the U.S. escort coalition, which they see as an attempt by the U.S. to militarize the Red Sea in order to protect Israel's interests. Houthi leader Abdul-Malik Houthi issued a statement on December 21 warning the United States not to interfere in their affairs or attack Yemen, otherwise the U.S. ship would be targeted. He also threatened that if the United States sends troops to Yemen, the United States will face something even tougher than it did in Afghanistan or Vietnam. The Houthis also called on other countries not to participate in the actions of the United States, as this could lead to a further deterioration of the situation in the region.
The United States, for its part, said that the United States does not seek to provoke a broader conflict in the Middle East or to engage the Houthis, but that the United States will continue to take military action if the Houthis do not stop their attacks. White House spokeswoman Psaki said at a news conference on December 31 that the United States aims to protect U.S. interests and allies, as well as uphold international law and freedom of navigation at sea. She also said that the United States supports the peace process in Yemen and called on the Houthis to stop their attacks on Saudi Arabia and Yemeni forces and return to the negotiating table.
Tensions between the United States and the Houthis remain ongoing, with rhetoric and actions on both sides showing a reluctance to budge. Analysts believe that the conflict between the United States and the Houthis may escalate into a full-scale war, posing a greater threat to the security and stability of the Middle East region. At the same time, it will also affect the global energy** and economic development, bringing more uncertainty and risks to the world.