In order to protect Israeli-related ships, the United States launched Operation "Prosperity Guardian", which organized a multinational force to escort ships in the Red Sea. However, the Houthis are not afraid of US deterrence, but instead increase their attacks on Israeli ships, and even fire missiles at US military **. Why are the Houthis so tough? What's behind it? This article will analyze the following aspects.
*: Houthi attacks on Israeli-linked merchant ships in the Red Sea).
1. The strong performance of the Houthis.
The Houthis are a leading armed group in Yemen, mainly composed of Shiite Houthi tribes, that have been engaged in armed struggle against Yemen** and Saudi-led coalition forces since 2004. The goal of the Houthis is to overthrow Yemen** and create a Shia-dominated Islamic state.
The Houthis have shown amazing combat effectiveness and execution on the battlefield, they are not only able to resist air strikes and ground offences by Saudi Arabia and other countries, but they are also able to launch **, occupy Yemen's capital Sana'a, and other important cities, and control most of Yemen's territory.
The Houthis are also capable of striking at foreign countries, and they have repeatedly attacked airports, oil facilities, military bases and other targets in Saudi Arabia, causing huge economic losses and personnel in Saudi Arabia. They also once halted an oil tanker carrying Israeli oil, sending a strong warning to Israel.
The Houthis' greatest enemy is the United States, which is a staunch ally of Saudi Arabia and Israel and the country that exerts the most pressure on the Houthis. The Houthis have repeatedly fired missiles at the US military ** in an attempt to sink the US ship, although they have not succeeded, but they have also demonstrated their courage and ability.
*: The Houthis fired 2 ballistic missiles at the USS Mason missile destroyer when it rescued an Israeli merchant ship).
2. The U.S. strategy of "cognitive warfare".
The U.S. attitude toward the Houthis is one of disgust and fear because the Houthis not only threaten U.S. interests and influence in the Middle East, but also cause problems for U.S. allies Saudi Arabia and Israel. The United States hopes to use diplomatic and military means to force the Houthis to abandon their armed struggle and accept a political solution.
However, the United States also knows that the Houthis are not so easy to defeat, they have a strong will and determination to fight, and they also have many supporters and sympathizers. If the United States were to carry out a direct military strike against the Houthis, it would not only trigger international condemnation, but also exacerbate regional conflicts and lead to more humanitarian crises.
Therefore, the United States has resorted to a more covert and cunning tactic, the so-called "cognitive warfare". Cognitive warfare is a combat method that uses the knowledge of psychology, communication, political science, and other disciplines to influence the opponent's cognition and understanding to strike at the opponent's will to fight and determination to fight.
The main aspects of the cognitive warfare of the United States are as follows:
First, the United States has portrayed the Houthis as a terrorist organization, a human rights violator, a destroyer of regional peace, and a puppet of Iran through propaganda and **, in an attempt to weaken the justice and legitimacy of the Houthis and make them lose their support and sympathy in the international community.
Second, through sanctions and pressure, the United States has cut off the economic and military ** of the Houthis, restricting their space and ability to operate, leaving them in a difficult and isolated situation, and making them feel powerless and hopeless.
Third, through negotiations and mediation, the United States has provided some concessions to the Houthis, so that they can relax their vigilance and defense, let them accept the arrangements and conditions of the United States, let them give up armed struggle and resistance, and make them submit and surrender.
*: U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced the formation of a multinational alliance to escort ships in the Red Sea).
3. Operation "Prosperity Guardian" of the United States.
The latest move in the U.S. cognitive warfare is to launch Operation "Prosperity Guardian" and form a multinational alliance to escort ships in the Red Sea. The purpose of this operation is to protect Israeli-linked ships from Houthi attacks, but also to demonstrate to the Houthis the determination and strength of the United States, and to make them feel pressure and fear.
However, this action did not achieve the desired effect of the United States, and instead provoked a strong reaction and counterattack by the Houthis. The Houthis not only did not stop their attacks on Israeli ships, but also listed the United States as a target, openly saying that they would attack if they dared to come.
The Houthi reaction surprised the outside world and embarrassed the United States. The United States, which originally wanted to fight against the Houthis' will to fight and determination, found that its actions were counterproductive, inspiring the fighting spirit and courage of the Houthis.
Moreover, this action has also exposed some problems and dilemmas of the United States. Firstly, the countries participating in this action are not united, some countries are just coping with the United States, and secondly, the legitimacy and legitimacy of this action are also questioned, and some countries and organizations believe that the United States is militarizing the Red Sea, interfering in the internal affairs of Yemen, supporting Israeli aggression, and violating international law and humanitarianism. The Houthis also accuse the United States of providing cover for Israel under the guise of escorting convoys, so that Israel can continue to bomb and ** Gaza indiscriminately.
Finally, the effectiveness and cost of this operation are also a headache for the United States, because the Houthis have a large number of missiles and drones, which can harass and attack US military ** and ships at a low cost, and the US military needs to pay a high price if it wants to intercept these targets. For example, the "Standard-2" Block IV missiles used by the U.S. military are as high as $2.1 million each, while the suicide drones used by the Houthis are only $2,000 each.
To sum up, the "Guardian of Prosperity" operation of the United States, which seems to be violent, is actually internally contradictory, external, ineffective, and costly, but has made the Houthis more determined and courageous to resist. The reason why the Houthis are so tough is not only their own fighting power and will, but also the supporters and sympathizers behind them, especially the Iranian and pro-Iranian forces, who have provided economic, military, political, diplomatic and other help and support to the Houthis, so that the Houthis have more means of escalation and coping strategies.
Conclusion: The confrontation between the United States and the Houthis in the Red Sea is a microcosm of the complex situation in the Middle East and a reflection of the dilemma of the United States in the Middle East. The United States wants to protect its own interests and influence, but it has been resisted and counterattacked by all sides, the United States wants to suppress the Houthis, but finds that the Houthis are not easy to provoke, and the United States wants to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, but finds that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict cannot be resolved.