The US aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower recently sailed into the Gulf of Aden to prepare for a military strike against the Houthis in Yemen. The news didn't attract much attention, and the fact that Israel had dug up Hamas's biggest tunnel, as well as the crash of Biden's convoy in the United States, seemed to be more eye-catching.
However, the U.S. plan to strike the Houthis could trigger a new round of turmoil in the Middle East. The Houthis are Iran's allies and Saudi enemies. After the outbreak of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the Houthis once attacked Israeli merchant ships, causing dissatisfaction in the United States. The United States believes that the actions of the Houthis not only threaten maritime security in the Red Sea, but also weaken the dominant position of the United States in the Middle East, as well as American support for Israel.
The US Department of Defense has already announced that it will carry out direct military strikes against the Houthis in order to eliminate their threat. This move by the United States may lead to the following three consequences:
First, the U.S. strike on the Houthis could exacerbate the civil war in Yemen and even provoke a confrontation between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Yemen is already a troubled country, and the conflict between the Houthis and Yemen** has not stopped. If the U.S. enters the fray, the Houthis could be more aggressive and retaliate against the Saudis. Relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran will also deteriorate because of the Houthis. Iran has launched drone and missile attacks on Saudi Arabia's Aramco oil fields through the Houthis, causing huge losses to Saudi Arabia. If the U.S. targets the Houthis, the Houthis may attack Saudi Arabia again, and even Iran will step in to support the Houthis. As a result, the situation in the Middle East will become more complex and dangerous.
Second, the U.S. attack on the Houthis could undermine the peace process in the Middle East and the improvement of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran. In the aftermath of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the entire Arab world expressed strong dissatisfaction with Israel's actions, and Saudi Arabia, as the leader of the Arab world, also showed a gesture of unity and exerted pressure on Israel. Saudi Arabia has also invited Russia's Vladimir Putin to visit, showing Saudi Arabia's willingness to play a more active role in the Middle East. At the same time, Iran has condemned Israel's actions and has a certain consensus with the Arab world. There are also some signs of détente in relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran. If peace can be achieved in the Middle East, it will be beneficial for both Saudi Arabia and Iran. Saudi Arabia has a wealth of money and a desire to reform and transform itself as a country with global influence. Iran also has a long history of culture and strong technology, and wants to break free from US sanctions and isolation and return to the international community. If Saudi Arabia and Iran can live in peace, it will be beneficial to the stability and prosperity of the Middle East.
However, the U.S. strike on the Houthis could break this peaceful atmosphere, worsen relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and plunge the Middle East into confrontation and conflict again. Such an outcome may be more in line with the interests of the United States and Israel. Because neither the United States nor Israel wants to see a strong and united Middle East, they prefer to see a ** and chaotic Middle East so that they can maintain their superiority and influence in the Middle East. The U.S. attack on the Houthis may be aimed at achieving such a goal.
Third, the U.S. strike on the Houthis could boost U.S. prestige and confidence around the world. The recent U.S. performance in Ukraine and Israel has cast doubt on U.S. strength and resolve, and U.S. allies are uneasy about U.S. support. The United States needs to fight a war that it can win to prove that it is strong and leading. The United States has a strong naval and air force, and it should not be difficult to deal with a small Houthi rebel. Moreover, if the United States can prop up a pro-Western Yemen**, it will also strengthen Western influence in the Red Sea region. Such a war may be a good option for the United States and the West.
The U.S. strike on the Houthis looks like it's ready to be struck. However, the war could trigger a chain reaction that could make the situation in the Middle East more complex and dangerous. Once the flames of war are ignited, I don't know how long it will burn, and I don't know how long it will burn. Peace in the Middle East may be wiped out by a blow from the United States.