President Trump has attributed responsibility for Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea to Iran, indicating that the U.S. will hold Iran accountable for future incidents. Following U.S. military strikes that resulted in significant casualties among the Houthis, attacks began after a ceasefire was breached. Analysts warn that shipping companies will be hesitant to return until there is a long period of peace.
President Trump has asserted that Iran will be held accountable for any additional attacks by Houthi militants on vessels in the Red Sea region. He indicated that Iran is directing the Houthis’ actions by providing them with weapons, financial support, and intelligence.
In a statement on Truth Social, Trump declared, “Every shot fired by the Houthis will be looked upon, from this point forward, as being a shot fired from the weapons and leadership of IRAN, and IRAN will be held responsible, and suffer the consequences, and those consequences will be dire!”
These remarks followed a significant U.S. military offensive against the Iran-aligned Houthis, which resulted in the deaths of at least 53 individuals and injured nearly 100 others in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, according to a report by the Houthi-run health ministry.
The Houthis initiated a series of attacks on various military and commercial ships soon after hostilities in Gaza escalated in late 2023, which disrupted traffic in a critical maritime corridor. In early 2024, the Biden administration assembled a coalition of around 20 nations to secure the Red Sea, executing retaliatory strikes against the militants and neutralizing their drones and missiles.
Following a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas announced in January, the Houthis temporarily ceased their assaults on shipping. However, they recently threatened to resume their attacks after Israel restricted humanitarian aid to Gaza earlier this month.
The U.S. strikes aim to restore safety in international shipping lanes within the Red Sea, which had been compromised due to Houthi attacks that forced ships to reroute, often around the Cape of Good Hope, thereby increasing transport time and costs and jeopardizing global supply chains.
Jonathan Roach, an analyst from Braemar ACM Shipbroking in London, indicated that even if hostilities cease in the Red Sea, shipping companies are unlikely to resume operations immediately. He noted, “So, it’s probably going to take a good three to six months of no hostilities to container ships before they’ll actually risk it.”
In conclusion, President Trump’s assessment places the onus of responsibility for Houthi attacks in the Red Sea squarely on Iran, while recent U.S. military actions have targeted these militants to restore navigational security. Although there was a temporary halt in Houthi threats due to a ceasefire, the situation remains precarious, particularly with ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region. Analysts indicate that shipping companies will require a significant period of peace before resuming operations in the Red Sea.
Original Source: www.iowapublicradio.org
