Yemen's Houthis Say Militarization of Red Sea Will Not Stop Their Support for Gaza
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis said Tuesday they would not halt attacks on Red Sea shipping despite the announcement by the United States of a new maritime protection force. Houthi spokesperson Mohammad Abdulsalam said in a statement on X that their attacks aim to support Palestinians as they face Israel's "aggression and siege" in Gaza. He indicated the Houthi operations were not a challenge to another party, warning that any side seeking to expand the conflict "must bear the consequences of its actions." He added, "The US-formed coalition is to protect Israel and a militarization of the (Red) Sea without any justification, and it won't stop Yemen from continuing its legitimate operations in support of Gaza." According to Abdulsalam, as the US allowed itself to back Israel, the people of the region have the legitimacy to support the Palestinian people.
The United States has called on the United Nations Security Council to take action against the attacks. In a letter to council members, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Houthi attacks targeting commercial vessels legally transiting the international waterways continue to threaten "navigational rights and freedoms, international maritime security, and international commerce." The 15 council members discussed the Houthi threat behind closed doors Monday but did not take immediate action. The US has not militarily replied to the Houthis or targeted any of the group's sites. On Monday, Austin did not answer a question as to why the Pentagon had not launched a counterstrike.
A British Royal Navy destroyer has joined a new international maritime protection force to protect shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the government in London said Monday. Destroyer HMS Diamond is part of the Operation Prosperity Guardian task force deployed to deter Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Bab Al-Mandeb strait. On Monday, the United States announced the 10-nation coalition to deliver a multinational response to the Houthi drone and missile strikes. UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said, "This is an international problem that requires an international solution. That is why HMS Diamond has joined Operation Prosperity Guardian."
On Tuesday, Israeli missiles and air strikes on the Rafah area in southern Gaza struck three houses, killing at least 20 Palestinians, according to health officials in Gaza. Tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians have crammed into Rafah on Gaza's border with Egypt to escape Israeli bombardments further north. Richard Peeperkorn, WHO representative for Gaza, also said about 4,000 displaced people taking refuge in the grounds of the Nasser medical complex in Khan Younis were at risk as Israel pursues military operations there. On Monday, the Gaza health ministry said that 19,453 Palestinians had been killed and 52,286 wounded since the start of the Israeli assault on Gaza.
