Houthi attacks against commercial shipping and American warships, as well as those of other nations, have yet to cease. American and British forces have launched numerous attacks against Houthi installations, all to no avail. Despite the destruction that the air strikes have wrought, the Yemeni rebel group’s operations do not appear to have diminished. Moreover, the Houthis continue to receive Iranian equipment, spare parts and trainers.
Iran has long supported the Houthis for both religious and political reasons. The Houthis practice Zaidi Islam, one of the three branches of Shiite Islam. The latter predominates in Iran; Tehran claims leadership of all Shiite Muslims, if not all Muslims. Other than Sunni Hamas, all other Iranian client groups throughout the Middle East practice some form of Shiism.
The Houthis claim that they are attacking American maritime forces because of Washington’s support for the Jewish State. The first such attack took place on Nov. 19, about six weeks after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel; the attacks have intensified over the ensuing seven months.
Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro testified before Congress in May that the fleet’s defenses against Houthi missile and drone attacks have cost the United States nearly a billion dollars. That cost surely has risen since then as the........