Cut Off the Head of the Snake in the Red Sea | Opinion
The MessengerJan 03
US-Led Coalition Warns Houthis to Stop Red Sea Attacks
The Facts
The US and 12 other countries issued a joint statement on Wednesday warning Yemen's Houthi rebels that attacks in the Red Sea are "illegal, unacceptable, and profoundly destabilizing," adding that they would "bear the responsibility of the consequences" if such incidents continue.
Since Dec. 19, the Houthis have carried out over 20 attacks on Red Sea shipping vessels allegedly linked to Israel or heading to Israeli ports. In response to their latest attack on a cargo ship on New Year's Eve, US Navy helicopters reportedly sank three Houthi boats and killed at least 10 Houthi fighters.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The international community must rally to counter the Houthi rebels. While the US' defensive responses to the continued attacks in the Red Sea have been impressively executed, only proactive military action will end the militants' terrorization of shipping routes. Unless the head of the snake is cut off, the Iran-backed rebels will continue to increase the gravity of their illegal activities. The US and its allies must use force to provide a definitive end to the Red Sea chaos before even more harm is caused.
Establishment-critical narrative
Yemen's Armed Forces will continue to engage in missile and drone attacks against Western forces as long as the genocidal siege of the Gaza Strip persists. US-led task forces will continue to be unsuccessful in their attempts to suppress the voices and actions of those who continue to fight back against the relentless and illegal deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinian women and children. Yemen will continue to act as per their religious, ethical, and humanitarian morals compel them to.
Nerd narrative
There's an 8% chance that the US and Iran will be primary actors on opposite sides of war before 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.