The recent Houthi attacks on U.S. ships and merchant ships in the Red Sea region have put Israel and the United States in a difficult position. The attack, which took place on 3 December, was the result of missile strikes on three merchant ships in the Red Sea, two of which were linked to Israel. In addition, a drone flew towards the US Navy destroyer USS Carney, but was successfully shot down by USS Carney. The U.S. blamed the Houthis for the attack, and the Houthis acknowledged it, saying they targeted Israel. Why did the Houthis attack Israeli ships?This is closely related to the current Palestinian-Israeli situation.
The Houthis, one of Hamas's external allies, said in previous statements that any Israeli-owned, operated or Israeli-flagged vessel would be targeted until Israel ceases its aggression against the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The Houthis have been fierce in rhetoric and more intense in their actions. In the last month, they have already carried out two large-scale attacks. On November 19, the Houthis seized an Israeli cargo ship called the Galaxy Leader in the Red Sea, but Israel** said that the seized ship had nothing to do with Israel and that there were no Israelis on board. On November 23, a cargo ship was attacked in the Indian Ocean, and the Houthis claimed responsibility. In this attack, the Houthis not only fired ** missiles, but also used drones to directly target Israeli merchant ships, causing great pressure on Israel and the United States.
The strategic position of the Red Sea region is very important, it connects the Suez Canal to Israel, and leads to Yemen and the Gulf of Aden. If Israeli ships want to go to the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, it is almost impossible to bypass the Red Sea. Similarly, ships going to Israel from the Indian and Pacific Oceans can only pass through the Red Sea. The Houthis' declared blockade of the Red Sea and attacks on any Israeli ships have put the United States and Israel in a difficult position. If every Israeli ship sends a ** escort, the United States and Israel may not have enough troops, and it could trigger a further escalation of the crisis. The Houthis are not Somali pirates, they have hundreds of thousands of regular armed forces and are armed with fighter jets, drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles with a range of up to 2,000 kilometers. It can be said that the Houthis have the ability to fight any country in the Middle East, and they have no fear of the United States and Israel.
Because of this, despite the Houthis' incessant firing of missiles and drones at Israel and their constant attacks on Israeli merchant ships, the response of Israel and the United States has been limited to interception and self-defense, and has never considered striking at the Houthis. After all, the Houthis are also acting to some extent, showing support for Hamas and not wanting a full-scale war with Israel or the United States. However, if the Red Sea is really blocked by the Houthis, Israel will face a serious dilemma. How to solve this situation, we need to wait and see.
To better understand why the Houthis attacked Israeli ships, we need to know some background. The Houthis are a Shiite armed group in Yemen also known as the Houthi rebels. They control parts of Yemen and have close ties with Iran. The issue of relations with Israel has been a long-standing focus in the Middle East. The Houthis are hostile to Israel, mainly because of Israel's aggression against Palestine and its control over the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
As a result of the protracted unresolved Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank have suffered from Israeli occupation and control. Since the establishment of Israel, the rights and interests of the Palestinians have been violated and deprived, which has given rise to a lot of anti-Israeli sentiment and acts of resistance. The Houthis see Israel as both an aggressor and an enemy, so attacks on Israeli ships are also a way for them to show their support for the Palestinians.
In addition, the connection between the Houthis and Iran was one of the reasons for the attack on Israeli ships. Iran is a major supporter of the Houthis, providing **, aid, and training to help the Houthis stand up to Israel. Iran has been trying to expand its influence in the Middle East by supporting and arming the Houthis and posing a threat to Israel. The Houthi attack on Israeli ships can be seen as a kind of ** war between Iran and Israel.
In addition, the geopolitical situation in the Red Sea region provides an opportunity for the Houthis to attack Israeli ships. The Red Sea is an important shipping route and is closely linked to the best travel between Europe, Asia and Africa. By blockading the Red Sea, the Houthis are trying to pressure Israel in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to force it to stop its aggression against Palestine. The blockade of the Red Sea region will cause problems for Israel and other countries** and shipping, so it is politically appropriate for the Houthis to choose the Red Sea as their target.
Faced with the threat of a blockade of the Red Sea by the Houthis, Israel and the United States face enormous challenges. If the Red Sea is blocked and merchant ships are impassable, this will have a significant impact on the world** and shipping. Israel, as a ** country, is extremely dependent on shipping. If the shipping routes are blocked, Israel will face a shortage of resources and the risk of economic collapse.
At the moment, the response of Israel and the United States is mainly focused on interception and self-defense, but this is only a temporary solution. In the face of the Houthis' large military power and aggressive attitude, resorting to military means could lead to greater conflicts and losses. Therefore, a series of comprehensive measures are needed to solve this problem.
First, countries should strengthen intelligence sharing and information exchange to jointly monitor and track the actions of the Houthis. By making full use of intelligence information, Houthi attacks can be detected and stopped in a timely manner, reducing possible losses.
Second, the international community should maintain pressure on the Houthis to stop their attacks on Israeli ships. Pressure is exerted on the Houthis, including through diplomatic and economic sanctions, to force them to reconsider their actions.
In addition, it is essential to strengthen security cooperation in the Red Sea region. Strengthen cooperation with countries bordering the Red Sea to jointly maintain security and stability in the Red Sea, strengthen maritime patrols and coordinated operations, and improve the ability to counterattack the Houthis.
Most importantly, the Middle East peace process should be actively promoted to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in order to reduce the presence and space for the activities of the Houthis and other terrorist organizations. Only through a peaceful resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict can the Houthi issue be finally resolved and the likelihood of attacks radically reduced.
In conclusion, the Houthi attack on the Red Sea is a serious challenge to Israel and the United States. Facing this problem requires the joint efforts and cooperation of the international community. By strengthening intelligence sharing, pressuring the Houthis, strengthening regional cooperation, and advancing the Middle East peace process, Houthi attacks can be minimized and stability and security in the Red Sea region can be maintained.