0
0
When the controlling faction in Yemen began attacking shipping in the Red Sea, their spokesmen assured the international community they were only attacking the ones owned by or heading to Israel, in protest of the probable and ongoing genocide in Gaza.
The reaction was an attempt by the United States to gather a coalition of the willing to form an anti-piracy mission, but failed to gather anything other than the cooperation of the UK, and some assistance from India.
Then, the US bombed Yemen for eight days straight, claiming to strike the depots and strongholds where the Houthi faction which controls the country allegedly stores their weaponry.
However, the bombing didn’t stop the Houthis, who continued attacking merchant shipping passing through the Bab al-Mandeb in the Red Sea.
When reporters asked President Biden if the attacks were working, his response was “Well, when you say ‘working’ — are they stopping the Houthis? No. Are they going to continue? Yes”.
To wit, the de-facto ruler of Yemen Abdulmalik al-Houthi, said they won’t back down from the Pentagon’s “Coalition of Shame” even if it “mobilizes the entire world”.
Not only have the Houthis continued their attacks, but broadened the scope of who they are attacking, which now includes US and UK-owned bulk shipping not en route to Israel, and even going so far as to target Greek-owned shipping en route to Iran, simply because the owner, Star Bulk Carriers, is listed on the New York City-based NASDAQ.
A Houthi military spokesman released a statement following the attack, vowing to “carry out more operations in retaliation to the Zionist crimes against our brothers in the Gaza Strip, as well as in response to the ongoing American-British aggression against our dear country”.
In the meantime, China, whose government and private industry have gone unmolested by the Houthi attacks, which can involve rockets, drones, and even troops looking to board, has said they are planning to ramp up Bab al-Mandeb shipping routes for what they now generally perceive as something like “immunity,” Oil Price reports.
Nasser Arrabyee, a Yemeni reporter with Yemen Now, recently spoke to American radio show host Scott Horton to explain why the US-UK strikes weren’t accomplishing anything. According to Arrabyee, the strikes are hitting all the empty and bombed-out buildings the Saudi Arabian air strikes of the last 8 years have already destroyed, being that they are located in active military areas or airstrips.
Furthermore, Arrabyee says the Houthis have learned over the long war with Saudi Arabia how to ensure their munitions remain hidden from satellite or other kinds of surveillance. WaL
PICTURED ABOVE: The US guided-missile destroyer USS Mason on patrol in the Gulf of Aden. PC: Petty Officer 3rd Class Samantha Alaman.
