Title: Houthi Rebels Launch Attacks on Ships in Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait; Joint Operation Launched to Address Security Challenges
In recent months, Houthi rebels in Yemen have carried out a series of drone and rocket attacks on ships in the Red Sea and the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait. These attacks have raised concerns about maritime security in the region and have prompted a joint military operation to address the security challenges posed by the Houthis.
The Houthis, a Shiite Muslim sect that has gained significant influence in Yemen, have been able to build a large following in the country, with their numbers reaching into the hundreds of thousands. In fact, they constitute as much as a third of Yemen’s population. In 2014, they seized the capital city of Sanaa, precipitating a civil war with the government backed by Western and Saudi forces.
Since then, the Houthi administration has expanded its control over most of Yemen, including major cities like Sanaa and the crucial Red Sea port of Hudaydah. Despite their troubling actions, the United States government removed the Houthis from its list of designated terrorist organizations in 2021. The Biden administration has recognized them as a legitimate actor in an effort to facilitate peace and end the ongoing war.
The Houthis are known to be part of a loosely defined alliance known as the “axis of resistance,” joining forces with groups like Hezbollah and Hamas in opposition to Israel. They claim that their attacks on ships in the Red Sea are aimed at supporting the Palestinian people in their fight against aggression in Gaza.
To address the security concerns emanating from Yemen and to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, Operation Prosperity Guardian was launched. This joint military operation brings together seven nations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Bahrain, and Canada. The main objective of this operation is to respond to Houthi attacks from territories under their control.
As maritime security takes center stage in the region, this joint operation aims to bring stability and safeguard commercial vessels passing through these critical waters. It remains to be seen whether such a coordinated effort will succeed in curbing the Houthi rebel attacks and restoring peace and security in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
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