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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday said there could be expected consequences following recent drone and missile attacks by Yemen’s Houthis on ships in the Red Sea.
However, Iranian-backed rebels said they would continue attacking ships.
The Houthis on Tuesday claimed responsibility for a barrage of drones and rockets toward international shipping lanes, saying they were trying to attack a U.S. Navy ship.
The United States and its allies have repeatedly warned the Houthis that such attacks would not go unresponsive, but so far the International Maritime Coalition, which is patrolling the Red Sea, has attacked Houthi missile bases in Yemen. Not yet.
“I’m not going to telegraph or foretell that something like that might happen,” Blinken said in Bahrain.
“If this continues like it did yesterday, there will be consequences.”
Houthi officials said on social media platform X that the group will continue to attack Israeli-linked vessels until the siege on Gaza is lifted.
British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps earlier suggested a military response against the Houthis was imminent.
“I want you to pay close attention to this,” he told reporters when asked whether the U.S.-led special forces would carry out their threat of an armed response against the Houthis.
Mr Shapps said he was in touch with other military leaders, including those in Saudi Arabia, and said: “We all have one voice to say that this situation cannot and will not continue. “We are doing so,” he said.
At the White House, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the U.S. would “do everything we can to protect shipping in the Red Sea,” adding that the Houthis “will bear the consequences” of their actions. did.
“We will continue to work closely with and consult with our allies and partners on appropriate next steps if these attacks continue,” Kirby said.
According to the U.S. Central Command, the Iranian-backed Houthis launched 18 one-way attack drones, two anti-ship cruise missiles and anti-ship ballistic missiles toward an international shipping lane carrying dozens of commercial ships. One shot was fired.
US and British jets and ships thwarted the “combined attack”.
Abi Melamed, a former Israeli intelligence official and senior government analyst who analyzes the Arab situation, said threats alone will not deter the Houthis.
Melamed said failing to take action would be similar to former US President Barack Obama’s failure to take action against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who crossed the “red line” of using chemical weapons. He suggested that.
“This war has so far provided an opportunity for the U.S. government and military to strengthen its image in the region, but this is a testing time for that image,” he said.
“Will the United States respond or maintain a defensive posture and suffer the loss of the image gains it has gained?”
Blinken, who is wrapping up a week-long tour of the Middle East to prevent the Israel-Gaza war from spilling over into a broader conflict, stressed that his message reached not only the Houthis but also Tehran.
“Like other countries, we have repeatedly sought to make clear to Iran that it must end its support for the Houthis, including these actions.”
Tuesday’s attack was the Houthis’ 26th since October 7, according to the Central Command.
No injuries or damage were reported.
Ellie Sennett contributed to this report.
Updated: January 10, 2024, 8:43 p.m.