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Source: https://breakingdefense.com/2024/02/how-to-counter-the-houthi-threat-at-sea/
How to Counter the Houthi Threat at Sea
(Breaking Defense) Bilal Y. Saab and Vice Adm. (ret.) Kevin Donegan - For the first time in four decades, a core U.S. interest on which successive American presidents have based Middle East policy - freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce - is at risk. By enabling the Houthis in Yemen to attack international vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden with armed drones and sophisticated anti-ship missiles - or hijack an entire vessel - Iran is causing tremendous harm to commercial activity in one of the world's most crucial waterways. The Houthi attacks have upended global trade and forced many ships to avoid Egypt's Suez Canal. To neutralize the Houthi threat, President Biden should task U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) with leading an effort to deny the Houthis the means and capability to attack the free flow of commerce. This effort should include an interdiction mission to counter the ability of the Houthis to be resupplied/rearmed by Iran with weapons used to attack international vessels, and denying the Houthis the use of Iranian intelligence and targeting information. Bilal Y. Saab is Senior Fellow and Director of the Middle East Institute's Defense and Security Program. Vice Admiral (ret.) Kevin Donegan is a senior fellow at MEI and a former commander of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet.