Esper warns US response to Houthis is ‘very insufficient’ as situation worsens
The United States’s Response to Houthi Attacks in the Red Sea is “Very Insufficient,” Says Former Secretary of Defense
The United States’s response to the ongoing series of Houthi attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea has been “very insufficient,” according to former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper.
U.S. Central Command announced late Tuesday night that the Houthis had targeted their 24th commercial vessel transiting the waterways around Yemen since mid-November, when their attacks began. Houthi leaders have claimed they’re targeting these vessels in response to Israel’s war in Gaza against Hamas.
Former Secretary of Defense Calls for Stronger Action
The U.S. military has largely not responded to the Houthi attacks, which Esper believes is a mistake.
“I think it’s been very insufficient,” he told the Washington Examiner. “We’ve yet to respond beyond the self-defense actions taken by the Navy last few days, but my view has been that we need to go after the Houthis, attack the missile sites or the drone sites where they’re being launched or where they’re being stored, and inflict some punishment on them so that we can restore deterrence. Otherwise, the Houthis are going to continue to do what they’re doing because they face no punishment.”
The former secretary said “the situation’s gotten worse” over time and questioned the Biden administration’s strategy.
“The Biden administration has this mistaken fear that if somehow we respond and take out the Houthi launch sites or missile inventories, somehow it will escalate in the region, and my view is just the opposite,” he said. “My view is if you don’t strike back and get rid of their capability to attack, then they’re going to continue to escalate, and at some point, they’re going to sink a ship or they’re going to kill an American, injure an American, who knows. But I think you risk more escalation.”
International Concerns and Joint Statement
The Houthis’ attacks have led major shipping companies to consider whether to reroute some of their cargo to avoid the Red Sea and, ultimately, the Suez Canal. A joint statement released on Wednesday from the governments of about a dozen countries, including the U.S., said, “Nearly 15 percent of global seaborne trade passes through the Red Sea, including 8 percent of global grain trade, 12 percent of seaborne-traded oil and 8 percent of the world’s liquefied natural gas trade.”
The governments of the U.S., Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom signed onto the statement, which said the attacks are “illegal, unacceptable, and profoundly destabilizing.”
“There is no lawful justification for intentionally targeting civilian shipping and naval vessels. Attacks on vessels, including commercial vessels, using unmanned aerial vehicles, small boats, and missiles, including the first use of anti-ship ballistic missiles against such vessels, are a direct threat to the freedom of navigation that serves as the bedrock of global trade in one of the world’s most critical waterways,” it continued. “Let our message now be clear: we call for the immediate end of these illegal attacks and release of unlawfully detained vessels and crews. The Houthis will bear the responsibility of the consequences should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, and free flow of commerce in the region’s critical waterways.”
U.S. Military’s Response and Biden Administration’s Actions
Last weekend, U.S. Navy helicopters from the USS Eisenhower and USS Gravely responded to a distress call from the Maersk Hangzhou vessel, and “in the process of issuing verbal calls to the small boats, the small boats fired upon the U.S. helicopters with crew served weapons and small arms,” CENTCOM said in a statement. The Navy returned fire in self-defense, sinking three of the four boats, while the fourth boat escaped, while CENTCOM confirmed no damage to U.S. personnel or equipment.
A senior Biden administration official praised the U.S. military’s response and said it demonstrated the “significance” of the U.S.-created international task force to safeguard commercial vessels in the region against Houthi attacks. The task force, dubbed Operation Prosperity Guardian, was announced in mid-December.
Following the incident, President Joe Biden convened his national security team this past Monday to discuss options for actions, the official told reporters on Wednesday. While the official did not want to get ahead of any potential decision from the president, they noted that the joint statement from various governments was one of the outcomes of that meeting.
Maersk, one of the major shipping companies, said Tuesday afternoon it decided to pause all shipping activity through the Red Sea “until further notice” and that its vessels will be rerouted around Africa in the near term.
National security council coordinator John Kirby warned on Wednesday that shipping companies who decide to avoid the Red Sea will be forced to add “weeks onto voyages” to go all the way around the Cape of Good Hope. He noted that if the threat goes on for long enough, it could have an effect on the global economy.
Various U.S. officials have said Iran is providing the Houthis with the intelligence and weapons they need to carry out these attacks.
Who is attacking ships in Red Sea?
The Houthis, who control much of Yemen including the capital, have since October attacked in the Red Sea commercial vessels they say have Israeli links or are sailing to Israel, in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Response and Potential Consequences
The lack of a strong response from the U.S. military to the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea raises concerns about the potential consequences of this inaction. The former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper emphasized the need for the U.S. to take decisive action against the Houthis. He advocated for targeted strikes on the missile and drone sites used by the Houthis, in order to restore deterrence and prevent further escalation of the attacks. Esper’s call for a stronger response is supported by the fact that the situation has worsened over time. The Biden administration’s strategy of avoiding escalation in the region, while well-intentioned, may ultimately lead to more aggression from the Houthis. If the U.S. does not demonstrate its capability and willingness to protect its interests, including the safety of its citizens and commercial vessels, the Houthis may become emboldened and continue their attacks with potentially devastating consequences. Furthermore, the international community shares concerns about the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. Major shipping companies are already considering rerouting their cargo to avoid the region, which would have significant implications for global trade. The joint statement released by several countries, including the U.S., emphasized that the attacks are illegal, unacceptable, and destabilizing. It called for an immediate end to the attacks and the release of unlawfully detained vessels and crews. The statement also highlighted the importance of the Red Sea for global seaborne trade, including the transportation of essential commodities like grain, oil, and liquefied natural gas. The attacks pose a direct threat to the freedom of navigation in the region, which is crucial for maintaining the flow of commerce. The consequences of allowing these attacks to continue are not only a risk to lives and the global economy but also a potential disruption of the world’s most critical waterways. The current response of the United States to the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea is deemed “very insufficient” by former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper. The lack of a robust response not only fails to deter the Houthis but also puts the safety of commercial vessels and global trade at risk. It is essential for the Biden administration to reevaluate its strategy and take stronger action against the Houthis, targeting their missile and drone sites to restore deterrence and protect the critical waterways in the region. Failure to do so may lead to further escalation, potentially resulting in significant consequences for lives, the global economy, and the flow of commerce.Conclusion
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