Anxiously Awaiting Continued US-Yemen Attacks

SANAA, TUESDAY—The United States and the Houthis continue to exchange threats following mutual missile launches. The difference is that Washington is not only threatening Sanaa. The United States is also threatening Iran. This exchange of attacks further diminishes the chances of the Red Sea becoming fully secure again.

"If America continues its aggression against our country in support of Israel, then such (attacks) will compel us to retaliate," said Abdul Malik Al-Houthi, the leader of Yemen's Ansar Allah group, or the official name of the Houthi group, on Monday night (17/3/2025) Sana'a time or early Tuesday morning Western Indonesia Time (WIB).

U.S. fighter jets attacked Sanaa and Saada in Yemen on Saturday (15/3). The attack killed at least 53 people and injured nearly 100 others. According to Washington, the Houthis carried out hijackings and attacks on U.S. ships in the Red Sea, one of the busiest shipping corridors in the world.

Al-Houthi said the Houthis allow ships not affiliated with Israel and its supporters to sail safely in the Red Sea. The ban on Israeli and allied ships was described as a preliminary step. "We will not hesitate, if the need arises, we will be ready," he was quoted as saying by Al-Mayadeen.

The commander of the Houthi military wing, Yahya Saree, stated that the aircraft carrier USS Harry Truman does not dare to approach Yemen. The aircraft carrier, which carries F/A-18 jets attacking Yemen, remains stationed at the southern end of the Suez Canal.

Referring to ship movement data, since last Friday, the aircraft carrier has actually been there. F/A-18 jets flew nearly 1,000 kilometers to launch missiles at several cities in Yemen.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump not only blamed the Houthis in Yemen. Trump emphasized that Iran would be held accountable for any attacks carried out by the Houthis.

"Every shot fired by the Houthis will, from now on, be regarded as a shot fired from Iranian weapons and leadership. Iran will be held accountable and will face the consequences, which will be terrible!" wrote Trump on social media.

The Head of Operations of the U.S. Joint Staff Office, Lieutenant General Alex Grynkewich, stated that the U.S. attack on Yemen this time is different compared to previous periods. Just last week, the U.S. targeted at least 40 locations. The targets included drone operators and missile and drone launch sites of the Houthis.

He claimed dozens of senior Houthi drone operators were killed in last week's strikes. In contrast, the Houthis said 53 civilians were killed in the US strikes.

A US official who declined to be identified said the Yemen offensive could last for weeks, with the scale and timing depending on what the Houthis decide.

Not only Houthi, the US attack on Yemen last week was responded by the Yemeni people. On Monday in Sanaa, thousands of people demonstrated to protest the attack.

Meanwhile, Iran's state news agency, IRNA, carried a statement by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi. "The US government has no authority or business to dictate US foreign policy. That era ended in 1979," he wrote on social media.

He was referring to Trump's threat that Iran stop supporting the Houthis. He also referred to the year of the Iranian revolution that toppled the government of Shah Reza. That government was close to the US.

Araqchi said that the US should be self-aware and think about the impact of its unconditional support for Israel. This support is one of the reasons why Israel continues to carry out genocide in Gaza. "More than 60,000 Palestinians have died and the world is demanding that the US be held accountable," Araqchi continued.

The US-Iran-Houthi threats bring bad news for shipping businesses. The Houthis insist that attacks on Israeli ships and supporters are to pressure Israel to stop various atrocities against Palestine.

Since November 2023, the Houthis have been attacking Israeli ships and their supporters at the southern tip of the Red Sea, which is the narrow Bab al-Mandab Strait.

The Houthi attacks forced companies to reroute ships to the longer and more expensive trip around South Africa. The Houthi attacks have disrupted global trade since then and now. (AP/REUTERS)