“It's a matter of days, if not hours, before specific attacks hit the Houthis and Yemen.” It won't necessarily be a “large-scale” operation, but “the Houthis are certainly kidding themselves if they think they are.” could evade them as they have been firing on ships left and right, not just naval vessels.” This was revealed in an interview with Adnkronos by Chatham House's Yemen and Gulf expert, the Yemeni Farea al-Muslimi, after which we will soon have one The pro-Iranian group that controls parts of Yemen must expect “retaliation” for the wave of rocket launches and drone attacks on merchant ships he carried out. The analyst predicts a period of high tension in the Red Sea. As long as the war in Gaza continues, “there will be an escalation in the region against international interests that will see all militias as protagonists, not just the pro-Iranian ones,” he argues. I believe that at some point they will also attack civilian ships, not just merchant ships. Now the Houthis are the axis of resistance on the Red Sea. And anyone who thinks otherwise is deceiving themselves.”
In order to stop the Houthi attacks, many analysts believe it would be necessary to reach an agreement with Iran over the war in Gaza. “Nonsense,” replies al-Muslimi, even if there was an agreement with Iran and the war in Gaza continued, these attacks would continue. “The Houthis agree with Iran, but if Iran sells out Gaza, it does not mean that the Houthis will do the same.” With or without Iran's request, the Houthis will attack these ships – explains the expert. Now they are behaving more like Iran than Iran. Therefore, questions about relationships, command and control are no longer relevant.”
Three motivations can be identified behind the Houthi attacks, the Yemeni analyst continues. The first is solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza, as the group “really cares about Palestine, its logo says 'Death to Israel, America and the Jews' and sincerely believes that Israel should disappear.” also an internal problem, since, he notes, there is “a lot of pressure on the Houthis at the local level” and attacks on ships in the Red Sea are a kind of relief valve. “Ultimately, they want to establish themselves, even through criminal means, as a global player in the world and in the Strait of Bab al-Mandab and in the Red Sea,” he concludes. So the Gaza war is definitely an early Christmas present for the Israeli Santa group.”