Yemen's Houthi Movement Chief Threatens to Target US-Led Task Force in Red Sea
Yemen's Houthi movement chief warned Wednesday that they would strike back if attacked by U.S. forces. Houthi movement leader Abdel-Malek al-Houthis said in a televised speech today, "If the Americans intend to escalate further, get more involved and commit foolishness by targeting our country… we will target them." He added, "We will make American battleships, American interests and American navigation a target for our missiles and drones." This statement came after the United States said it was establishing a multinational naval task force to protect vessels transitting the Red Sea from Houthis attacks carried out in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Houthis have launched several drone and missile attacks on ships in the Red Sea in support of the Gaza Strip, which Israel has bombed since October.
The Biden administration could be looking at another strategy in its battle with Yemen's Houthis after it emerged that the cost of shooting down one of the group's drones over the Red Sea is around $2 million. The Pentagon announced earlier this week a ten-country coalition that would serve as a deterrent against terror attacks by the Houthis in the Red Sea corridor. According to Bloomberg, it has emerged that the Pentagon will 'offer' Biden the option of a 'heavy response' to the Iran-backed Houthi group.
The Italian navy will send one of its frigates to help protect the Red Sea shipping route against attacks by Yemen's Houthis, Italy's defence ministry said on Tuesday. The attacks target a key supply link between Asia and Europe, causing the cost of shipping to rise as companies seek alternative maritime routes and threatening the global economy. "Italy will do its part, together with the international community, to counter the terrorist destabilization activity of the Houthis," Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said after a video call with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
On Wednesday, Hamas's Qatar-based leader, Ismail Haniyeh, arrived in Cairo for talks on a ceasefire in the group's war with Israel in Gaza and a prisoner exchange. Haniyeh arrived "in the Egyptian capital Cairo to hold discussions with Egyptian officials over the developments of the Zionist aggression on the Gaza Strip and other matters," the group said in a statement. Before he arrived in Cairo, Haniyeh had met in Doha with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. A source affiliated with the Palestinian group said on Tuesday that Haniyeh would head a "high-level" Hamas delegation to Cairo, where he will hold talks with Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel.
