According to CCTV News, on December 20, local time, in response to the United States' announcement of the formation of the so-called Red Sea escort alliance, Yemen's Houthi leader Abdul Malik Houthi said that if the United States attacks the Houthis, then American warships will become the targets of the Houthis. If the United States sends troops to Yemen, the United States will suffer a more disastrous defeat than it did in Vietnam and Afghanistan.
According to the data, the Vietnam War and the Afghanistan War initiated by the United States both caused the US military to "fall into a quagmire" and finally ended in the dismal withdrawal of US troops. The two wars were also controversial in the United States.
On December 18, the Houthis attacked the cargo ship "Atlantic Swan" (Source: CCTV News)
Houthi leader Abdul Malik Houthi also said that the Houthis would not turn a blind eye if the United States further escalated the situation and attacked Houthi targets because of their support for Hamas. He stressed that if the United States attacks, the Houthis will retaliate, using missiles and drones to launch attacks on American warships and other targets in the Gulf region. He also warned other countries not to participate in the so-called escort coalition formed by the United States.
Earlier, on December 18, Mohammed al-Buheiti, a member of the Houthi's core decision-making body, told Qatar's Al Jazeera that the Houthis are capable of dealing with any coalition formed by the United States and other countries.
Illustration of the geographical location of the Red Sea
According to Xinhua News Agency, after the outbreak of the current round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Yemen's Houthis have repeatedly used missiles and drones to launch strikes against targets in Israel on the grounds of "supporting Palestine", and have continuously attacked ships "associated with Israel" in the Red Sea.
In this regard, U.S. Secretary of Defense Austin said on the 19th that the United States is forming a multinational force to escort ships in the Red Sea to deal with Houthi attacks on incoming and outgoing ships. Although U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has said that the so-called convoy alliance was established to jointly address the security challenges in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, the relevant Middle Eastern countries have responded with little response. So far, only Bahrain has participated in this operation.
On December 19, the Houthis issued a statement saying that the US-led multinational force could not prevent the group from launching attacks on "Israeli ships" passing through the Red Sea. The group's maritime operations are aimed at "supporting the Palestinian people in the face of Israeli aggression and blockade," not a "show of force or challenge" against other parties. The multinational force formed by the United States "militarized" the Red Sea "without justification" and said that "anyone who tries to expand the conflict must bear the consequences for his actions."
On December 16, the U.S. military said it had shot down 14 Houthi drones (Source: Xinhua News Agency)
Some analysts believe that the spillover of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has affected international shipping, and the Red Sea cannot be "militarized." If the crisis persists, it could lead to higher commodity prices, a bitter fruit that will be paid for by consumers.
At present, a number of shipping companies, including Hapag-Lloyd of Germany, Maersk Line of Denmark, Mediterranean Shipping Company, and CMA CGM Group, have announced that they will temporarily avoid the Red Sea, detour the Cape of Good Hope or choose other routes.
Affected by this, international oil prices rose slightly on the 20th. By the end of the day, light crude futures for February 2024 delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose 28 cents, or 0.38 percent, to settle at $74.22 a barrel, and London Brent crude futures for February 2024 delivery rose 47 cents, or 0.59 percent, to settle at $79.7 a barrel.
In addition, retailers are also starting to warn that ship rerouting could lead to supply chain disruptions. Ikea, the world's largest furniture retailer, said the situation would cause delays and could lead to supply constraints for some of IKEA's products. The Financial Times worries that "the most dangerous scenario is the outbreak of a full-scale war in the region".
Jimu News integrates Xinhua News Agency, CCTV News, Global Times, and reference news
(Source: Jimu News)
For more exciting information, please download the "Jimu News" client in the application market, please do not reprint without authorization, welcome to provide news clues, and pay the remuneration once adopted. 24-hour hotline: 027-867777777.