"US Contemplates Attack on Yemen Houthi Mainland Bases... Saudi Arabia Opposes"

Concerns Over Escalation Amid Israel-Hamas Clashes
Multinational Fleet Focuses on Protecting Maritime Trade Routes

As the United States is considering attacks on the mainland bases of the Yemeni Houthi rebels, who threaten security in the Red Sea, major Middle Eastern allies such as Saudi Arabia are reported to have opposed the attacks. This is interpreted as a concern that if the Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, have their strongholds attacked, Iran might directly intervene militarily and provoke further conflict, potentially escalating the situation alongside the ongoing clashes between Israel and Hamas.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

On the 19th (local time), Bloomberg News cited sources within the U.S. government saying, "Plans to attack the Houthi rebels' bases to neutralize their attack capabilities are under review," adding, "However, the U.S. government is also keeping diplomatic solutions open and continuing efforts with hopes for success."

Bloomberg reported that this is a separate and stronger response being sought apart from the multinational security initiative announced the previous day by the U.S. government to protect Red Sea trade routes, called 'Operation Prosperity Guardian.' This comes as the Houthi rebels have effectively blocked the Red Sea trade routes, causing most oil tankers and trade ships to abandon the Suez Canal and take the longer detour around the Cape of Good Hope at Africa’s southern tip, raising concerns about a logistics crisis.

In particular, the rebound in international oil prices, which had previously stalled, continues. On this day, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) rose 1.53% from the previous session to $73.94 per barrel. WTI had fallen to $68.61 on the 12th but reversed course and rebounded as the Houthi rebels intensified their attacks on Red Sea trade routes.

Shortly after the U.S. announced the formation of a multinational fleet, the Houthi rebels threatened to further strengthen their offensive against Red Sea trade vessels. According to AFP, Muhammad Ali al-Houthi, a senior Houthi official, stated in an interview with Iran’s Al-Alam TV, "Ships of countries opposing us will be targets of our attacks in the Red Sea."

Accordingly, the multinational fleet is primarily tasked with securing the Red Sea trade routes and defending against drone and missile attacks by the Houthi rebels, while plans for direct U.S. military strikes on Houthi bases within Yemen are under consideration, Bloomberg reported.

However, Bloomberg pointed out that the execution of plans for U.S. military attacks on mainland Yemen faces opposition from U.S. allies in the Middle East, such as Saudi Arabia. Given that clashes between Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas have continued for over two months, an airstrike on the Houthi rebels’ mainland bases, backed by Iran, could significantly increase concerns about escalation, including direct Iranian military intervention.

John Alterman, a Middle East expert at the U.S. think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), told Bloomberg, "The most difficult aspect is that no one wants to get involved in an indefinite war in the Middle East," adding, "Conversely, from the Houthi rebels’ perspective, engaging in an indefinite war with the U.S. could help draw more support from Iran."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.