Escalating Tensions in the Red Sea

The military actions of the U.S. against Houthi positions in Yemen intensified this week. Anonymous sources revealed that the U.S. carried out strikes to neutralize four anti-ship ballistic missiles that the rebels were preparing to launch. This came after previous retaliatory strikes by the U.S. and its allies against Houthi military targets. Despite these coalition strikes, the Houthis continued to target commercial vessels, with a recent missile hitting a ship in the Red Sea. The latest strikes were described as defensive, targeting imminent threats to international shipping. Additionally, there were reports of the Houthis firing a ballistic missile at a commercial vessel in the southern Red Sea. While the Houthis have vowed to respond, U.S. officials believe that the previous coalition strikes have significantly impaired the militants' capacity to attack international shipping. In a separate development, U.S. Navy SEALs intercepted a small boat smuggling weapons parts from Iran to resupply the Houthis off the coast of Somalia. This seizure included Iranian-made ballistic missiles and cruise missile components. Tragically, two Navy SEALs involved in the operation were reported missing at sea.