By Laurence F. Sanford

The Houthis have declared war on the United States. The Houthis are an Islamic Shia rebel group fighting against the Sunni central government of Yemen and control an area that borders the Red Sea.

The U.S. launched military strikes against Houthi missile and control centers in retaliation for the more than 170 Houthi missile and drone attacks against U.S. Navy and Western ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The U.S. Navy spent over $1 billion and drew down missile stockpiles in defending its ships from the Houthi attacks. Israel has also been under Houthi missile attacks.

Russia and Communist China’s ships are conspicuously free from Houthi attack. The Houthis receive Russian satellite ship identification and tracking data to target Western shipping. Chinese high-tech military equipment, including missile and drone components, is smuggled into Yemen by Iranian surrogates. Russia and China also support the Houthis against any UN resolution condemning their piracy.

Chinese ship traffic to Europe through the Suez Canal has increased as Western-owned ships divert around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, adding 10 days and fuel costs. This gives Chinese shipping a competitive cost advantage. Russia uses the Suez Canal to ship oil to India and China.

The Houthi slogan is: “God is great, death to America, death to Israel, curse the Jews, and victory to Islam.” The Houthis claim their attacks are in response to Israel’s invasion of Gaza. No mention is made that Israel was responding to the Hamas invasion and genocide slaughter of more than 1,200 Israelis and the taking of 250 hostages on October 7, 2023.

Iran’s slogans are “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.” Shia Iran sponsors anti-Israel and anti-American warfare through its proxies of Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis.

President Trump, in his first term, designated the Houthis a terrorist organization. President Biden removed this designation. President Trump, in his second term, re-designated the Houthis as a terrorist organization.

The Sunni-led central government of Yemen has not been able to win the war against the Houthi rebels. Sunni Saudi Arabia was aiding the central government, but after admonitions from Biden and Houthi missile attacks against Saudi oil facilities, aid greatly diminished. Sunni Egypt, despite substantial financial losses from reduced Suez Canal toll income, has not aided the central Yemeni government because of fear of political backlash if it were to support the West and Israel against the Houthis.

Oman is a significant conduit of Iranian/Chinese military arms to the Houthis. Located to the east of Yemen and south of Saudi Arabia, Oman aids the Houthis by allowing advanced missile systems from Iran, China, and Russia to transit its territory to Yemen. Houthi leaders freely operate within Oman.

Summary

The United States cannot win against the Houthis as long as Iran, China, and Russia continue to supply weapons and missile systems. The Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan wars were lost not on the battlefield but because the enemies were supplied money and materials through seaports and land routes from entities inimical to the U.S.

What is needed is a total blockade of Houthi-controlled Yemeni ports and the enlistment of Arab forces. NATO should be called to support actions against Houthi piracy.

No UN resolutions condemning the Houthi piracy will be forthcoming due to Russian and Chinese vetoes and Islamic support for the fight against Israel. However, the U.S. can and should raise the issue at every UN venue.

Freedom to navigate the seas is fundamental to international order. If Western ships cannot transit the Red Sea, then no other nation’s ships should be able to transit. The U.S. Navy is stretched thin, but it should be able to muster forces sufficient to blockade the Red Sea. The Navy needs a leader like Elon Musk to resuscitate U.S. shipbuilding as he did with the space program.

Reciprocity should be the foundation of U.S. policy. If a nation or organization does not support the U.S., the U.S. should reciprocate by withholding aid monies and/or trade preferences.

Action

1. Blockade all Houthi-controlled sea ports and land routes from Oman.
2. Continue airstrikes on Houthi missile and government centers.
3. Demand that the UN and NATO take action against the Houthis.
4. Make military aid to Egypt and Saudi Arabia contingent on opposing the Houthis.
5. No U.S. troops in Yemen territory.

Laurence F. Sanford is a senior analyst at the American Security Council Foundation.