American newspaper: Frustration in Washington regarding the continued Houthi attacks on ships... and air strikes alone are not enough

The American newspaper, The Washington Times , spoke of the clearly growing state of frustration in Washington and in the region regarding the continued Houthi attacks against ships in the Red Sea, despite allied efforts to disrupt the rebel arsenal.

The newspaper said in a report translated by "Yemen Shabab Net", "Despite the huge American and international maritime coalition, the Houthis are continuing their attacks and succeeding in causing major disruption in international shipping patterns."

The United States and its allies have launched about 450 strikes against Houthi positions along the Yemeni coast, including some of the most intense air sorties in the past few weeks.

The Iran-backed movement has now launched nearly 200 attacks against military and commercial ships passing through the Red Sea since November 2023.

The United States and Great Britain responded with multiple retaliatory air strikes deep into Yemen and spent more than six months shooting down swarms of Houthi boats, drones, and missiles heading toward commercial ships at sea.

“The Houthis have suffered some losses, but they retain the ability to disrupt shipping in the Red Sea,” Thomas Juneau, an associate professor focusing on the Middle East at the University of Ottawa’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, said recently.

He added: "Perhaps most importantly, beyond the material damage they suffered, their intention to continue obstructing shipping in the Red Sea has not wavered."

US Central Command officials said in a statement, "Continued malignant and reckless behavior by the Iran-backed Houthis threatens regional stability and puts the lives of sailors across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden at risk."

The Defense Intelligence Agency said in a recent report that the Houthi group quickly expanded its target list, saying that any ship belonging to the United States or its allies may also face attacks.

The Houthis' use of an unmanned aerial vehicle ( USV ) against the M/V Tutor is a sign that the nature of their attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea may be evolving, said Bradley Bowman, senior director of the Center for Military and Political Power at Harvard University.

Bowman expected to see more attacks on ships with drone boats. He said, "Ukraine uses it in the Black Sea to confront Russian aggression, and Iranian-backed terrorist organizations use it in the Red Sea to threaten commercial ships."

He added: "The United States has continued to destroy the offensive capabilities of the Houthis in Yemen, but the terrorist group still has sufficient means to threaten shipping."

“The fact that the Houthis are able to continue to launch effective strikes against ship traffic in the Red Sea indicates that they continue to enjoy a steady supply of weapons from their allies in Tehran,” Mr. Bowman said.

He added, "The efforts to destroy the capabilities of the Houthis in Yemen that do not devote enough attention and resources to intercepting arms shipments from Iran to Yemen are like a homeowner who cleans the puddles but ignores the hole in the ceiling."

Shipping shifts

Container shipping through the Red Sea usually represents 10 to 15% of international maritime trade, but has declined by about 90% since December 2023.

Alternative shipping routes around Africa add about 11,000 nautical miles, up to two weeks of additional transit time and about $1 million in fuel costs per trip, according to the Defense Intelligence Agency.

At least 20 major energy and shipping companies have changed their routes to avoid Houthi attacks. Taking the long route around Africa can be less expensive because shipping companies do not have to take into account the combined costs of crew bonuses, risk insurance that is now 1000% larger than before, and Suez Canal transit fees ranging from 400,000 to $700,000, according to US officials.

Deputy Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said the US Navy's role in the region is to maintain freedom of navigation and uphold international law, and she defended the US campaign so far. She said that American forces have achieved "great success" so far.

“We certainly understand the global impact and the impact on global trade if shipping routes have to be redirected,” Ms. Singh said on Monday, adding: “It is up to shipping companies to decide whether they want to continue transiting through the Red Sea. That is a decision for them to make.” Every company takes it.”

Officials at the International Maritime Organization, a UN agency specializing in regulating maritime transport, said they were dismayed by recent Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, and called for increased international assistance for seafarers.

“I strongly condemn any kind of attack on international shipping, regardless of its motive or cause,” IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said Tuesday in a statement.

He continued: “This situation cannot continue. Everyone will feel the negative impact if international shipping cannot trade as usual. But our commitment, above all, is to protect the safety of all seafarers.”