U.S.-led forces conducted military strikes on Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen this week, raising concerns about the potential escalation of the war in the Middle East. The coalition strikes were carried out in response to the Houthi attacks on international maritime vessels in the Red Sea, which have been ongoing for weeks. Yemen's strategic location at the opening to the Red Sea makes it a crucial shipping corridor, and the Houthi attacks aim to inflict economic pain on Israel's allies and increase pressure on Israel to cease its military offensive in Gaza.
The Houthi sect, backed by Iran, is a Shia political and military organization that has been engaged in a civil war against a coalition backed by Saudi Arabia since 2014. They currently control much of northern Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa. In February 2021, President Biden delisted the Houthis as a terrorist group and announced the end of U.S. support for the Saudi offensive in Yemen. However, following the recent attacks, President Biden referred to the Houthis as a terrorist group, regardless of their formal designation.
