Houthi attacks in the Red Sea could bring new chaos to Yemen

Yemen, a country devastated by civil war from 2015 until 2022, today appears to have entered a new era of violence.

While the Houthis have displayed reckless courage in attacks that have impacted global trade, their foreign opponents, including the US, will be unlikely to maintain self-restraint if they continue.

The killing of 10 Houthi fighters on 31 December in the Red Sea and the US-UK airstrikes on sites in Yemen have set the stage for more violence, while presenting a powerful impetus for the Houthis to continue their operations.

The 10 Houthi deaths in the Red Sea were the beginning of what could become an intractable US-Houthi conflict, with reprisal likely the only option for the Yemeni group.

There are indications from statements that the Houthi group has been longing for a direct war with the US for years.

The group feels the time is ripe for a battle with US forces, given that US warships are easily within the range of their missiles. Plus, the group now enjoys unprecedented popular support in Yemen.

Houthi militants have carried out over 100 drone and missile attacks against commercial ships in the Red Sea over recent weeks. As a result, over 100 cargo ships chose to reroute away from the Suez Canal to evade potential Houthi threats.