Report: US and its allies are considering a military attack on Houthis after rebels take over a cargo ship
US has not yet approved military action for fears Iran will retaliate
The United States and its allies are considering a military attack on the Houthi rebels in Yemen. This was reported on Wednesday night by the Bloomberg News outlet from sources involved in the preparations.
According to the report, U.S. allies are already preparing plans to attack Houthi bases to stop the Houthis' ability to harm merchant ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Sources in the Pentagon defined the emerging plan as a "heavy response" to the Houthi attacks. However, it was emphasized that the U.S. still prefers to give diplomatic action a chance and has not yet approved the military action.
The discussions about military action emphasized the urgency that the U.S. and its allies see in resolving the threat to free navigation posed by the Houthis, as well as the recognition that the international defense task force announced by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin last night may not be enough to stop the Houthis.
According to Bloomberg, a military attack on bases in Yemen could lead to the Gaza war spreading to other arenas, and could possibly ignite a war with Iran. Saudi Arabia is at the forefront of the opposition to such an action for fear of Houthi retaliation against them.
Nathan Guttman is correspondent for KAN 11 in Washington, DC.
