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Iranian Missiles in Houthi Hands Threaten Freedom of Navigation in Red Sea

(Institute for Contemporary Affairs-Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Lt. Col. (ret.) Michael Segall - The Houthi-Yemeni conflict has assumed a new dimension that could endanger civilian freedom of navigation in the Red Sea's Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which serves as a gateway for oil tankers headed to Europe through the Suez Canal. On Oct. 1, 2016, the Houthi-allied Yemeni Republican Guard launched an anti-ship cruise missile that struck a humanitarian ship in the service of the United Arab Emirates Navy. On Oct. 9 and 11, Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired on the USS Mason. In retaliation, the USS Nitze launched Tomahawk cruise missile strikes knocking out three Houthi coastal radar sites that were active during previous attacks and attempted attacks on ships in the Red Sea. The strikes, authorized by President Obama, represent Washington's first direct military action against Houthi targets in Yemen. Not far from Yemen in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian fast boats continue to harass and provoke American warships, which operate without any appropriate response. Playing down the incident will play into Iranian propaganda and bolster Iran's already overconfident and defiant stance. The writer is a senior analyst at the Jerusalem Center.
2016-10-14 00:00:00
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