Bloomberg: Houthis Prepare for 'Long-Term Battle' with the U.S. in the Red Sea

Bloomberg reported on Thursday, February 22, citing several informed sources, that the Iran-backed Houthis are strengthening their military and defensive capabilities to continue attacks on ships passing through the Red Sea. The sources, who wished to remain anonymous, told Bloomberg that the Houthis' steps in this direction include enhancing mountainous hideouts for safer and more effective missile launches, as well as testing surface and underwater unmanned vessels. An advisor to the Saudi leadership, who also requested anonymity, informed Bloomberg that Riyadh is particularly concerned about the Houthis' potential efforts to disrupt major internet cables located on the seabed of the Red Sea. According to Bloomberg, there are currently no signs of the Houthis' intent or capability to carry out such an attack. Abdulmalik al-Houthi, the leader of this Iranian proxy group in Yemen, claimed on Thursday, February 22, the commencement of using 'submarine weapons' in attacks on vessels passing through the region's waters. The Houthi leader threatened that operations in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and Gulf of Aden would continue and intensify. Bloomberg, relying on field information gathered by its sources, added that the Houthis have been strengthening their positions in three mountainous regions over the past weeks. According to these sources, the Houthis have dug more bunkers and tunnels in the mountains of Hajjah province, located northwest of Sana'a and bordering Saudi Arabia, overlooking the Red Sea, as well as around the interior peaks of Yemen. Four informed sources told Bloomberg that these remote and rugged locations are used to hide missile stockpiles, and mountainous areas over 2,000 meters high allow targeting ships at greater distances, including the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea. According to Saudi and Yemeni sources, currently, hundreds of members and experts of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iranian-backed militias are present in Yemen assisting the Houthis' attacks in the Red Sea, and some of them have been killed in recent U.S. and British strikes. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced in a statement that from the early hours of Wednesday, February 21, until the evening of that day, it destroyed nine Houthi missiles, launchers, and drones. According to the CENTCOM statement, seven mobile anti-ship cruise missiles and one mobile anti-ship ballistic missile launcher that were ready to fire towards the Red Sea were destroyed in four strikes. The statement added that during the same time frame, CENTCOM shot down a Houthi suicide drone in a self-defense operation. CENTCOM identified these Houthi weapons as an 'imminent threat' to commercial vessels and U.S. naval ships in the region, stating that their destruction was aimed at protecting freedom of navigation and making international waters safer for ships present in the area. Concurrently with CENTCOM's defensive strikes, the U.S. State Department on Wednesday issued a statement condemning the Houthi attacks on civilian cargo ships supported by the Islamic Republic. The statement from the department read: 'The irresponsible and indiscriminate attacks by the Houthis on civilian ships endanger the lives of innocent sailors, disrupt maritime trade, and increasingly threaten regional security and stability.' The U.S. State Department also labeled the Houthis' behavior as 'terroristic' and added: 'The Houthis' attacks have dire humanitarian and economic consequences. These attacks lead to price increases and delays in the delivery of vital humanitarian items such as food and medicine in areas that need them most.' The U.S. State Department emphasized that 'contrary to the Houthis' claims, their attacks do not assist the Palestinians.' The United States reiterated its commitment to freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and other international waterways, stating: 'We will continue to work with our partners to counter the threats posed by the Houthis and maintain peace and stability in the region.' The British Maritime Trade Operations organization reported on Wednesday that it received reports of an explosion and light in the southern Red Sea about 60 kilometers west of the port of Hodeidah. According to Reuters, this organization added that ships and crews around the reported explosion site are safe. The Iran-backed Houthis have attacked vessels around Yemen multiple times in recent months. The Houthis' actions against commercial ships, which have caused insecurity in maritime trade in the Red Sea, have faced military responses from the U.S. and some of its allies. Additionally, the U.S. Treasury Department announced last week that it had once again placed the Houthis of Yemen on the list of 'specially designated global terrorists' due to their attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea since Friday, February 17. The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency confirmed in a report on February 6 that the Iran-backed Houthis have been using Iranian-made missiles and drones against military and civilian targets across the Middle East.