Mint Explainer: Why has the US coalition escalated hostilities with the Houthis?
Mint takes a closer look at the situation. For close to two months, attacks on ships on the vital Red Sea routes have troubled the international community. The Houthis, a rebel group in northern Yemen, have launched these attacks in an effort to punish Israel, a key link along the trade route, for its military offensive in Gaza.
The US formed a coalition of countries under Operation Prosperity Guardian to restore stability in the region. On 3 January, a coalition of 14 countries warned the Houthis that there would be consequences if their attacks continued. Continued attacks led to the strikes on 11 January.
“These precision strikes were intended to disrupt and degrade the capabilities the Houthis use to threaten global trade and the lives of international mariners in one of the world’s most critical waterways," the governments of 10 countries said in a joint statement. A number of Western powers backed the coalition’s actions. However, the reaction in other parts of the world has been mixed, with major Middle Eastern powers such as Saudi Arabia voicing concern about the escalation.
Other regional powers such as Iran and Oman have criticised the strikes. Some experts are not convinced the Houthis will be deterred by these strikes. They argue that the Houthis have experienced a wave of popularity in the Arab world for their missile attacks on Israel and for standing up to the West.
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