Coalition Airstrikes Against Houthis in Yemen; Saudi Arabia Calls for Restraint

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday, shortly after U.S. and British airstrikes on Houthi-related bases in Yemen, issued a statement calling for restraint and 'preventing escalation of conflicts,' stating: 'Freedom of navigation is an international demand.' According to Reuters, the Saudi Foreign Ministry's statement reads: 'Saudi Arabia, which has been engaged in peace talks with the Houthis in recent months, is closely monitoring the situation with great concern.' At the same time, the Saudi Foreign Ministry emphasized: 'The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia stresses the importance of maintaining security and stability in the Red Sea region, just as freedom of navigation is an international demand.' The Houthi movement, a group affiliated with the Islamic Republic, has taken control of many areas in Yemen after nearly a decade of war against the Saudi-led Western-backed coalition and has emerged as a supporter of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in the war against Israel. Although Mohammed Abdulsalam, the Houthi spokesman, stated on Thursday that the group's attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea do not threaten the peace negotiations with Saudi Arabia, the group's attacks on commercial vessels that they claim are 'linked to Israel or heading to Israeli ports' continue. U.S. President Joe Biden confirmed on Thursday in a statement that the U.S. and British attacks on Houthi positions in Yemen were carried out 'at my direction and with the presence of U.S. military forces, Britain, and with the support of Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, successfully, united, and decisively.' Biden described the aim of the Friday morning attacks on Houthi positions as 'ensuring freedom of navigation in one of the world's most vital waterways,' adding: 'These attacks are a direct response to the unprecedented Houthi attacks on international maritime vessels, including the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles for the first time in history in the Red Sea.' He emphasized: 'These attacks have endangered the lives and property of American personnel, civilian mariners, and our partners, disrupted trade, and threatened freedom of navigation. More than 50 countries have been affected in 27 attacks on international commercial shipping. Crews from over 20 countries have been threatened or taken hostage in acts of piracy. More than 2,000 ships have been forced to change their routes thousands of miles to avoid passing through the Red Sea, which can cause delays of several weeks in product delivery, and on January 9, the Houthis carried out their largest attack to date, directly targeting American ships.' There is widespread support among American lawmakers for the U.S. and its allies' attacks against the Houthis; this was a necessary response to ongoing attacks. A senior Biden administration official stated: 'The Islamic Republic has always been a supporter of the Houthis, or rather their main supporter.' The British statement regarding the attack on Houthi positions stated that insecurity in international waterways is intolerable. Biden confirmed the attack on Houthi positions in Yemen; the international community's response to this group was 'united and decisive.' The insistence of the Houthis on disrupting international shipping has led to the targeting of this group’s positions supported by the Islamic Republic in Yemen. France is escorting ships with its interests in the Red Sea. Blinken warned the Islamic Republic that support for the Houthis 'will have consequences.' Associated Press reported that concerns about the onset of a 'total war' in the region have increased. The commander of the IRGC threatened despite calls to stop destabilizing actions: 'We will attack the enemy from afar and near.'