The US military conducted precision air strikes against Houthi terrorist command centers earlier this week.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported strikes on a “key command and control facility operated by Iran-backed Houthis within Houthi-controlled territory in Sana’a, Yemen.”
“The targeted facility was a hub for coordinating Houthi operations, such as attacks against U.S. Navy warships and merchant vessels in the Southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden,” explained CENTCOM.
The strikes are the last in a long chain of tit-for-tat actions by the US government in response to Houthi aggression against the US, Israel, and allies traversing the Gulf of Aden.
However, the timing of President Joe Biden’s administration’s latest strikes against Houthi forces in Yemen is being questioned by military experts.
According to experts from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), the military strikes on Houthi command centers seem to have arrived far too late.
Bradley Bowman, the Senior Director of FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power, characterized the strikes as “half-steps for fear of escalation.”
“One wonders how long the administration knew about this command-and-control facility and why it wasn’t hit earlier,” said Director Bowman. “If we want the worst assault on maritime shipping in decades to end, the United States should impose greater consequences on the Houthis and their patron in Tehran.”
Similarly, Retired Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery claimed the US should impose greater costs on the Houthis and strike Iran, their primary funder.
“It’s good to see U.S. forces hitting important Houthi targets in Yemen, but if the goal is to deter future attacks with Iranian-supplied weapons, then the United States has to impose costs on Iran,” said Admiral Montgomery.
Almost daily, Houthi forces have executed drone attacks against ships believed to have direct or indirect links to the US, Israel, or any of their allies.
Given a third of the global container shipping trade traverses the region targeted by the Houthis, their strikes have increased shipping costs, consequently raising prices for consumers.
Consequently, Biden’s handling of the Houthi crisis has faced extensive criticism.
Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio, for example, criticized Biden’s response to the Houthi conflict.
Rubio questioned Biden’s decision to remove the Houthis from the US’ official terrorist shortlist and termination of military support for allies’ anti-Houthi operations.
Rubio accused Biden of executing ineffective military responses that emboldened the Houthis and ultimately endangered Americans.
“When our country’s enemies go unpunished for attacking Americans and paralyzing the global economy,” said Rubio. “We are inviting them to continue their reckless, unchecked aggression to see what else they can get away with.”
