The Biden administration has asked Israel not to respond to recent attacks by Yemen’s Houthis, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.
The Houthis, formally known as Ansar Allah, have fired missiles and drones at Israel in response to the Israeli onslaught in Gaza and have targeted Israeli-linked commercial ships in the Red Sea. US warships have responded to the Houthi attacks and have downed several Houthi missiles and drones in recent weeks.
According to the Journal, the US is concerned an Israeli response could spark a major regional war. US officials told Israel that the US would handle any potential response, although POLITICO reported that the administration is not planning on directly targeting the Houthis, at least for now.
The POLITICO report said the Pentagon has drawn up plans to strike the Houthis, but they have not been presented or recommended to President Biden. The report said there is a “high-level consensus within the administration that it does not make sense for the US military to respond directly to the Houthis.”
Saudi Arabia has also urged the US not to strike the Houthis over concerns that such an attack could jeopardize the Saudi-Houthi peace process. A ceasefire between the Saudis and the Houthis has held relatively well since April 2022, but a lasting peace deal has not yet been signed.
The US announced sanctions targeting the Houthis on Thursday that target 13 people and firms allegedly involved in the sale and shipment of Iranian commodities. The Treasury Department claims the network has transferred tens of millions of dollars worth of foreign currency to the Houthis.
The US has backed a Saudi-led coalition against the Houthis since 2015 in a brutal war that has killed at least 377,000 people. But it’s rare that the US and the Houthis directly exchange fire.
The old basketball saying “No harm, no foul” comes to mind. So far the Houthis action have not cause any real damage. If one of their missiles/drones/rockets score a meaningful hit, the do not attack Houthis sign will come down.
The other issue may be that the IDF make a dumb move and hit a Saudi city or oil facility by mistake, causing oil prices to start rising again….A very bad thing during an election year. The Houthis are now using the seized Galaxy Leader as a tourist attraction. Photos and videos show a good time by all being had on the ship.
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2023/12/06/Galaxy-Leader-ship-seized-by-Yemen-s-Houthis-becomes-a-tourist-attraction
Does your husband, the corrupt theocratic dictator Mohammed Bonesaw Salman, approve of your cheerleading for the Iranian proxy Houthis?
Better be careful, the Mabahith الوزارة الداخلية المباحث العامة might be monitoring your social media posts and you could end up spending decades in prison like Salma al-Shehab (or maybe murdered and dismembered by Jamal Khashoggi ) as punishment for daring to displease “His Highness”.
Maybe they can sink it and turn it into an artificial reef, like was done with the USS Oriskany.
US would go to war anytime except during election time period…!
Are you kidding me? Three out of Four comments so far on this article are from Pro-War CIATalkingPointers arguing against telling Israel not to start another war???!!! Anti-War audience must have changed. Like all the Pro-War Media out there they could agree with, they’re making Pro-War arguments against Anti-War articles right here instead?! Like Justin Raimondo used to say, “Bizzaro World.”
I’m not sure they are exactly prowar?
On second thought, you could be right. That’s why I do the jokes and you do the facts.
You do plenty of facts, my bad pun partner, lol.
They probably have as much fun trolling Antiwar as I have fun trolling FoxNews. (Not that I ever trolled Tucker, understand….)
The old US would have started another war; the new US has gained some anti-war credits because the US has created a cauldron in the Middle East, and they know it apparently. Meanwhile, China and Russia are moving into Iraq and Syria, while Iran and Saudi are talking. Bottom line: US world hegemony is slipping.
I applaud the US!
Can’t understand why anyone would expect the hoodlums who blew up the U.S.S. Liberty to pay any attention when the U.S. says, “Pretty please, don’t shoot at the Houthis, cuz, y’know, it might start another war that U.S. taxpayers can’t afford.”