Houthis threaten more attacks against Western warships

Unbowed after joint US-UK attacks on Yemen, the Iran-backed group warns of continued attacks in Red Sea.

Yemen’s Houthi militia has stated it plans more attacks on United States and British warships.

The Iran-aligned group’s statement, released on Wednesday, said all US and British warships participating in “aggression” against Yemen are targets. The statement stoked concern over the simmering tensions in the region as well as increased disruption to world trade.

The Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, have launched drones and missiles at shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November 19. The group said the attacks are a response to Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

The US and Britain have struck back at Houthi targets in Yemen as they patrol the Red Sea in a naval coalition that has swapped numerous attacks with the Yemeni group.

In the latest exchange, the Houthis fired missiles at the US warship USS Gravely. On Tuesday night, US Central Command said its forces had shot down an antiship cruise missile.

The Houthi attacks have added a global economic element to the turmoil emanating from the war in Gaza.

Several shipping companies have suspended transits through the Red Sea, which is accessed from the Gulf of Aden, instead taking much longer and costlier journeys around Africa to avoid being attacked.

The situation has sent shipping and insurance costs soaring, raising fears of a renewed cost-of-living crisis.

In response to the attacks, the US government redesignated the militia as “specially designated global terrorists”, and amid the threat of extended shipping disruptions, the European Union’s foreign minister Josep Borrell said on Wednesday that the bloc aims to launch its own Red Sea naval mission by the middle of February.

The 26-member union refused to join the US coalition established in December due to concerns of some states about operating under Washington’s control.

Borrell said defence ministers should decide on Wednesday, a day ahead of a European Council meeting, on which country will lead the effort, as well as outlining where the mission would be headquartered, who would participate and with what assets.

Economic hit