Maj Gen P K Mallick, VSM (Retd)
The commander of US Navy Central Command, Vice Adm. Bradley Cooper, said that the US assesses 55 nations that have direct connections to the ships that have come under fire.From mid-November 2023 onwards the Houthis started increasing attacks in the Red Sea. The US and its coalition partners kept on warning the Houthis to stop the attacks. The Houthis continued to push the envelope further in the escalation ladder. It had to culminate in the US-UK strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The US needed to respond militarily. It had warned the Houthis repeatedly over the last several months not to attack international shipping as these were intolerable. Rather than backing down, the Houthi attacks had gotten bolder. President Jo Biden said that the US administration needed to demonstrate both to the Houthis and also to the other maligned actors in the region that such behaviour is not acceptable and will prompt an American response.
There have been at least 27 Houthi attacks since November 19. The commander of US Navy Central Command, Vice Adm. Bradley Cooper, said that the US assesses 55 nations that have direct connections to the ships that have come under fire.
On October 19, 2023, one of the US Navy destroyers, USS Carney, intercepted four cruise missiles and 15 drones launched by the Houthis directed against Israel. On November 19, 2023, the Houthis turned their attention to commercial shipping, seizing a cargo ship, the Galaxy Leader, and diverting it to the port of Hodeidah. This remains their main success to date. On December 3, USS Carney, along with some commercial ships, were attacked in international waters with anti-ship ballistic missiles fired from Yemen. Three commercial ships were struck, while Carney shot down three drones.
On January 3 2024, in a joint statement, the UK, US, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea and Singapore warned that “The Houthis will bear the responsibility for the consequences should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, or the free flow of commerce in the region’s critical waterways.” While not describing the statement as a red line, Biden and his team recognized the language would essentially bind them to a more forceful response should the Houthi attacks continue, which many officials privately believed they would.
On January 4 2024, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned while travelling in the Middle East that “if it doesn’t stop, there will have to be consequences. And unfortunately, it hasn’t stopped.” An important aspect of Blinken’s trip to the Middle East was to tell regional leaders that if the US takes military action against the Houthis, it should be seen as defensive, not escalatory.
The 26th attack on commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea since November 19 took place on January 10 2024. A Security Council resolution, sponsored by the US and Japan, demanded that ‘the Houthis immediately cease all such attacks, which impede global commerce and undermine navigational rights and freedoms as well as regional peace and security.’ It allowed member states, in accordance with international law, ‘to defend their vessels from attack, including those that undermine navigational rights and freedoms.’ Eleven nations voted for it, though Russia, China, Mozambique and Algeria abstained.
On January 11, 2024, the 27th attack occurred when an anti-ship ballistic missile was fired close to a commercial ship, although it only hit the water. The US Navy had shot down 21 missiles and drones fired by the Houthis. This was the fiercest response from the US since the attacks began. This attack was the final straw, though preparations have been ongoing. The US and UK had no choice but to retaliate against the Houthis’ brazen attacks.
Response of Countries
US. President Joe Biden in a statement released by the White House said, “Today, at my direction, U.S. military forces, together with the United Kingdom and with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, successfully conducted strikes against a number of targets in Yemen used by Houthi rebels to endanger freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most vital waterways.” The President said the strikes were a direct response to the “unprecedented Houthi attacks against international maritime vessels in the Red Sea — including the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles for the first time in history”.
Following the airstrike on 13 January, Biden said that the US had sent a “private message” to Iran regarding the Houthis.
Reactions from the US Congress were mixed. Some supported the strikes and others condemned Biden for using military force without congressional approval.
Top Democrat leaders in Washington DC including California representative Ro Khanna, and Representative Val Hoyle from Oregon have voiced strong criticism against US President Joe Biden’s airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. The lawmakers from Biden’s party said the US President didn’t take necessary permission for the January 11 strikes on Yemen-based Houthis rebels and called the attacks “unconstitutional.”
The UK Prime Minister said, “And it’s why I made the decision with allies to take what I believe to be necessary, proportionate and targeted action against military targets, to degrade and disrupt Houthi capability. It’s clear that this type of behaviour can’t be met without a response, we need to send a strong signal that this breach of international law is wrong.”
UK. The defence ministry said, “Intelligence has shown that it has been used to launch both cruise missiles and drones over the Red Sea. Several key targets at the airfield were identified and prosecuted by our aircraft”. They added that the strikes were planned in a manner to minimize any risks to civilians, hence the decision to conduct the strikes during the night.
The Houthis. Houthi leaders responded to the strikes. They warned the U.S. and U.K. will “have to prepare to pay a heavy price and bear all the dire consequences for blatant aggression.” Abdulsalam Jahaf, a member of the group’s security council threatened, “We will confront America, kneel it down, and burn its battleships and all its bases and everyone who cooperates with it, no matter what the cost.”
To denounce air strikes launched by the US and UK, Houthi supporters organised a huge rally in Sanaa on Friday, 12 January. 
Houthi leader Abdul Malek Al-Houthi said that any US attack on Yemen will not go unanswered, cryptically warning that the response will be much more than attacking US ships in the sea.
Yemeni government. The internationally-recognized Government of Yemen issued a statement strongly condemning military actions by the Houthis blaming them for dragging the country into a military confrontation arena for propaganda purposes and misleadingly linking it to support for Palestinians.
The government reaffirmed its right to enhance security in the Red Sea region, saying stability there and globally cannot be achieved except by restoring the legitimate state institutions in Yemen. Reaffirming its support for the Palestinian cause, the Yemeni government warned that the Israeli aggression in occupied territories risks further destabilizing the region and threatening international peace and security.
Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has been doing a delicate tightrope walk. It quickly sought to distance itself from the attacks as it seeks to maintain a delicate détente with Iran and a cease-fire it has in Yemen. It also supports the government-in-exile that the Houthis are fighting.
Iran. In a statement from Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani Iran condemned Friday’s attack. He said. “Arbitrary attacks will have no result other than fueling insecurity and instability in the region.” The Foreign Ministry condemned the strikes as a “clear violation of Yemen’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” and a violation of international laws.
Egypt. The Foreign Ministry expressed deep concern over the escalation of military operations in the Red Sea and air strikes in Yemen. Egypt called for “uniting” international and regional efforts to reduce instability in the region.
Oman. State media reported that the Omani government denounced the military action from “friendly countries”. Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Al-Busaidi said the attack went against his country’s advice and that it would only add fuel to an extremely dangerous situation.
Turkey. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan accused the UK and US of attempting to make the region surrounding the Red Sea “a sea of blood”.
Western Powers.
All major US allies did not back the strikes in Yemen. The Netherlands, Australia, Canada and Bahrain provided logistical and intelligence support, while Germany, Denmark, New Zealand and South Korea signed a joint statement defending the attacks and warning of further action. However, Italy, Spain and France chose not to participate in the operations fearing a wider escalation. They did not sign a statement put out by 10 countries justifying the attacks.
The divergence highlights divisions in the West over how to deal with the Houthis.
France. Response to France is very interesting. On 11 January, the joint commander of French forces in the Red Sea region, Rear-Admiral Emmanuel Slaars, told journalists in Paris that French naval forces were patrolling the waters where the Houthis operated. Slaars said the French naval forces remained under national command and were not subordinated to the US. However, they are cooperating and sharing intelligence with the US. Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné reaffirmed France’s condemnation of Houthi strikes on commercial vessels, stating that “with those armed actions, the Houthis bear the extremely serious responsibility of the escalation in the region”. However, the French government did not express support for the US and UK air strikes. Asked whether France refused to participate, U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said he wouldn’t elaborate on diplomatic conversations.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a French official said Paris feared that by joining the U.S.-led strikes, it would have lost any leverage it had in talks to defuse tensions between Hezbollah and Israel. France has focused much of its diplomacy in recent weeks on avoiding an escalation in Lebanon.
Signalling possible tacit support for the U.S. action, the French foreign affairs ministry issued a statement saying the Houthis bore responsibility for the escalation. However, a diplomat who is aware of France’s position said Paris did not believe the attack could be deemed legitimate self-defence.
Russia. Russia, historically an influential player in the Middle East and a known backer of the Palestinians, Iran, Yemen, and other Arab states, condemned the attack, calling the US and UK irresponsible. At an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council late on 12 January, Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia accused the U.S., U.K. and allies of blatant armed aggression against Yemen and warned “if the escalation continues, the entire Middle East could encounter a catastrophe. Presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the strikes illegitimate under international law but also called on the Houthis to stop attacking commercial vessels, which he described as extremely wrong.
Spain. Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles said Madrid had not joined the military action in the Red Sea because it wanted to promote peace in the region. She told reporters in Madrid, “Every country has to give explanations for its actions. Spain will always be committed to peace and dialogue,”.
Italy. A source in Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office said Italy had declined to sign the statement and as a result was not asked to participate in the attacks. A government source said Italy declined to take part in the operations for two reasons : firstly because any Italian involvement would have needed parliamentary approval, which would have taken time and secondly Rome preferred to pursue a “calming” policy in the Red Sea.
However, hours later a government statement added that “Italy supports the operations of allied countries, who have the right to defend their vessels, in the interest of global trade flows and humanitarian assistance.”
China. China has a huge stake in the Red Sea for the movement of its trade and import of hydrocarbons. Can China trust organisations like Houthis for the safe movement of its vessels? In a guarded statement, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning urged restraint.
Militant groups
Hamas. Senior official Sami Abu Zuhri said in a press statement that “the US-UK aggression against the Yemeni forces’ sites provokes the entire nation and indicates the intention to expand the conflict zone beyond Gaza’s boundaries, which has repercussions”.
Hezbollah. The Media Relation Office condemned “the blatant US-UK aggression against brotherly Yemen, its security and sovereignty”.
Palestinian Islamic Jihad: In a press statement, the group expressed support for the Houthis and argued that “this aggression comes as part of the US and UK military aid to Israel and proves that the US administration is the one responsible for the Israeli genocidal war against the Palestinian people in Gaza”.
The author is an Indian Army Veteran.
Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal and do not reflect the official position or policy of Financial Express Online. Reproducing this content without permission is prohibited.
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