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The '''United States–Houthi conflict''', also known as the '''United States–Iran proxy war'''<ref name="NYT Name">{{cite web |last1=Sanger |first1=David E. |last2=Barnes |first2=Julian E. |last3=Yee |first3=Vivian |last4=Rubin |first4=Alissa J. |title=U.S. and Iran Wage a Proxy War |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/14/world/middleeast/us-iran-mideast-war.html |work=The New York Times |accessdate=20 January 2024 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119050934/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/14/world/middleeast/us-iran-mideast-war.html |archivedate=19 January 2024 |format=[[News]] article |date=January 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>, is an ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran-backed militias which began in late 2023. It includes the [[U.S. Navy]] fighting against [[drone attacks]] on American warships and other vessels by armed groups of the [[Houthi movement]]. It also includes clashes with other groups and militias, in various countries' territories, who are part of an overall conflict with [[Iranian proxies]] and Iran-backed groups.
The '''United States–Houthi conflict''', also known as the '''United States–Iran proxy war'''<ref name="NYT Name">{{cite web |last1=Sanger |first1=David E. |last2=Barnes |first2=Julian E. |last3=Yee |first3=Vivian |last4=Rubin |first4=Alissa J. |title=U.S. and Iran Wage a Proxy War |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/14/world/middleeast/us-iran-mideast-war.html |work=The New York Times |accessdate=20 January 2024 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119050934/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/14/world/middleeast/us-iran-mideast-war.html |archivedate=19 January 2024 |format=[[News]] article |date=January 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>, is an ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran-backed militias which began in late 2023. It includes the [[U.S. Navy]] fighting against [[drone attacks]] on American warships and other vessels by armed groups of the [[Houthi movement]]. It also includes clashes with other groups and militias, in various countries' territories, who are part of an overall conflict with [[Iranian proxies]] and Iran-backed groups.


Revision as of 17:53, 23 January 2024

United States–Houthi conflict
Part of the Israel–Hamas war, Red Sea crisis and Yemeni civil war
Date8 October 2023 – present
Standort
Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea
Status

Ongoing

Belligerents

 Yemen (SPC)

  •  Houthi movement
  Vereinigte Staaten
US Coalition:
 Vereinigtes Königreich
 Australien
 Bahrain
 Kanada
 Dänemark
 Deutschland
 Griechenland
 Niederlande
 Norwegen
 Südkorea
 Seychellen
 Singapur
 Sri Lanka
 Frankreich
 Italien
 Indien
 Neuseeland
 Pakistan
Commanders and leaders
Strength
Jemen Houthi movement Unclear (see Houthi armed strength) Unknown
Casualties and losses

Jemen Houthi movement 3 small ships sunk[1]

10 killed		 Vereinigte Staaten 1 MQ-9 Reaper shot down[2]

The United States–Houthi conflict, also known as the United States–Iran proxy war[3], is an ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran-backed militias which began in late 2023. It includes the U.S. Navy fighting against drone attacks on American warships and other vessels by armed groups of the Houthi movement. It also includes clashes with other groups and militias, in various countries' territories, who are part of an overall conflict with Iranian proxies and Iran-backed groups.

Specific operations

As part of this, Operation Prosperity Guardian is a military operation by a multinational coalition formed in December 2023, to respond to Houthi-led attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced the formation of an international maritime security force, which aims to counter threats by Houthi forces against international maritime commerce following weeks of attacks against commercial vessels.[4] The coalition currently has more than 20 members.[5] Egypt and Saudi Arabia, both economically reliant on unhindered commercial shipping in the area, are absent from the listed participants.[6] Aside from the eleven listed coalition members, there are ten anonymous governments concealing their involvement.[7]

Some published reports from mainstream media outlets described some of the purported coalition partners as being somewhat "reluctant."[8]

Timeline of events

Regional conflict

On 8 October 2023, the day after the Hamas attack on Israel, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin directed the Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean in response. Along with the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, the group includes the cruiser Normandy, and the destroyers Carney, Ramage, Roosevelt and Thomas Hudner.[9]

Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Bab-el-Mandeb strait.

On 19 October 2023 Carney intercepted three cruise missiles and eight drones launched by the Houthi militants in Yemen.[10][11] While the real targets of the cruise missiles and drones were uncertain, the missiles and drones were shot down by Carney as the missiles and the drones were headed north along the Red Sea in the direction of Israel during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war.[12] Reports showed that Carney actually encountered a larger and more sustained barrage than was previously known on that day after it shot down four cruise missiles and 15 drones over a period of nine hours.[13]

On 8 November 2023 an American MQ-9 Reaper was shot down off the coast of Yemen in the Red Sea by Houthi forces. Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh later stated in a press conference that the Houthis later attempted to recover the drone but that the Pentagon believed that they would be unable to recover anything of significance and that U.S. forces were not looking to recover it themselves.[14]

On 19 November 2023 Houthi rebels seized a cargo ship in the Red Sea. On 22 November 2023 Thomas Hudner shot down multiple drones launched by Houthi groups. On 26 November 2023 Houthi forces tried to seize an Israeli-affiliated ship near the coast of Yemen.[15]

On 3 December 2023 Carney and civilian-owned commercial ships were attacked in international waters in the southern Red Sea, with anti-ship ballistic missiles fired from Yemen by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.[16] Missiles struck three commercial ships, while Carney shot down three drones in self-defense during the hours-long assault.[17] The United States Central Command said: "We ... have every reason to believe that these attacks, while launched by the Houthis in Yemen, are fully enabled by Iran."[17][18][19]

On 7 December 2023 the US announced it would impose sanctions on 13 individuals and entities whom it claimed are funding the Houthis.[20]

On 14 December 2023 Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, Defense Minister of Iran, said that any naval coalition formed by the US would face major problems.[15]

On 16 December 2023, while operating in the Red Sea, Carney successfully shot down a barrage of 14 unmanned aerial system (UAS) one-way attack drones launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.[21][22]

On 19 December 2023 US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that the US had formed a coalition of ten nations who would send ships to assist in fighting against attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.[6]

On 21 December 2023, Defence Minister of Greece Nikos Dendias announced in a televised address that Greece will join the US-led coalition.[23]

On 21 December 2023, the US announced that more than twenty countries have joined the coalition.[5]

On 25 December 2023, the US carried out air strikes against Iran-backed groups in Iraq.[24]

On 26 December 2023, the Indian Navy sent the destroyers INS Kochi and Kolkata to the Gulf of Aden, in response to an attack on a cargo vessel near the coast of India.[25][26]

On 28 December 2023, sanctions were imposed upon several entities by the US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, which said that these entities had helped to convey financial aid from Iran to Houthi forces located in the region of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.[27]

On 31 December 2023, the container ship Maersk Hangzhou issued distress call after coming under attack from four Iran-backed small Houthi ships. Several shots were fired at the Maersk Hangzhou and attempts to board were made. However, a contracted security team aboard the container ship returned fire and defended Maersk Hangzhou. The aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and destroyer USS Gravely responded to the distress call. Verbal commands were issued to the four small ships, and helicopters from the Dwight D. Eisenhower were dispatched. After taking small arms fire, US Navy helicopters returned fire, sinking three of the small ships. There was no damage to US equipment or personnel.[1]

On 10 January 2024, the UK defence secretary stated that UK and US naval forces pushed back the largest attack to date from Houthi rebels.[28]

On 11 January 2024, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq said that if Yemen is attacked by the US and UK, "we will attack the Americans' base with everything in our power".[29]

2024 Yemen airstrikes

Main article: 2024 Yemen airstrikes

Since 12 January 2024, the United States and the United Kingdom, with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, have launched a series of cruise missile and airstrikes against the Houthi movement (Ansar Allah) in Yemen in response to Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea.[30] The Houthis had previously declared that their attacks are in support of Palestinians during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war; Houthi attacks on shipping were condemned by the United Nations Security Council the day before the initial strike.[31][32][33][34]

US President Joe Biden ordered the strikes, and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak convened his cabinet to authorize British participation.[35][36] American officials said the strikes were intended to degrade Houthi capabilities to attack Red Sea targets rather than to kill leaders and Iranian trainers; the Houthis said at least five people were killed and six wounded.[34][37]

In the week that followed, seven additional missile attacks on targets in Yemen were conducted by the joint forces.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b US Central Command [@CENTCOM] (31 December 2023). "Iranian-backed Houthi small boats attack merchant vessel and U.S. Navy helicopters in Southern Red Sea" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ Seyler, Matt. "US Reaper drone shot down near Yemen by Iranian-backed Houthi militants, defense official says". ABC News. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  3. ^ Sanger, David E.; Barnes, Julian E.; Yee, Vivian; Rubin, Alissa J. (January 2024). "U.S. and Iran Wage a Proxy War" (News article). The New York Times. Archived from the original on 19 January 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  4. ^ Callahan, Michael; Britzkey, Haley (18 December 2023). "Austin announces US-led security operation focusing on Red Sea, Gulf of Aden after Houthi attacks on commercial shipping". CNN. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  5. ^ a b "More than 20 countries join coalition to protect Red Sea shipping, says Pentagon". The Times of Israel. AFP. 21 December 2023. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  6. ^ a b Sabbagh, Dan (19 December 2023). "US announces naval coalition to defend Red Sea shipping from Houthi attacks". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  7. ^ Altman, Howard (19 December 2023). "Red Sea Maritime Coalition Much Bigger Than Originally Disclosed". The Drive. Archived from the original on 20 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  8. ^ Stewart, Phil; Latona, David; Amante, Angelo (28 December 2023). "US allies reluctant on Red Sea task force". Reuters.
  9. ^ "Statement From Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III on U.S. Force Posture Changes in the Middle E". U.S. Department of Defense. 8 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  10. ^ Petras, George; Loehrke, Janet (5 December 2023). "US Navy ship attacked in Red Sea by Houthi militants: How it unfolded". USA Today.
  11. ^ Sciutto, Jim; Liebermann, Oren (19 October 2023). "First on CNN: US Navy warship near Yemen intercepts multiple missiles, US officials say". CNN. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  12. ^ Martinez, Luis (19 October 2023). "US Navy destroyer in Red Sea shoots down cruise missiles potentially headed toward Israel: Pentagon". ABC News.
  13. ^ Liebermann, Oren (20 October 2023). "Incident involving US warship intercepting missiles near Yemen lasted 9 hours". CNN. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  14. ^ "Houthis tried to recover U.S. drone they shot down, Pentagon says". Reuters. 9 November 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Iran warns US will face 'problems' with Red Sea task force plans". Al Jazeera. 14 December 2023.
  16. ^ Allison, George (4 December 2023). "American warship shields British ships during missile attack". UK Defence Journal. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  17. ^ a b "3 commercial ships hit by missiles in Houthi attack in Red Sea, US warship downs 3 drones". Associated Press. 3 December 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  18. ^ Cooper, Helene (3 December 2023). "U.S. Navy Destroyer Shoots Down Three Drones in Red Sea, Pentagon Says". The New York Times.
  19. ^ Motamedi, Maziar (4 December 2023). "Yemen's Houthis target Israel-linked ships in Red Sea. Here's what to know". Al Jazeera.
  20. ^ "US targets Houthi funding network following attacks on commercial ships". Al Jazeera. 7 December 2023.
  21. ^ US Central Command [@CENTCOM] (16 December 2023). "In the early morning hours of December 16 (Sanna time) the US Arliegh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS CARNEY (DDG 64), operating in the Red Sea, successfully engaged 14 unmanned aerial systems launched as a drone wave from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  22. ^ Ziezulewicz, Geoff (16 December 2023). "USS Carney takes out drone swarm in the Red Sea". Navy Times.
  23. ^ "Greece to join US-led coalition to protect Red Sea shipping from Houthis". Al Jazeera. 21 December 2023.
  24. ^ Stewart, Phil (25 December 2023). "US retaliates in Iraq after three US troops wounded in attack". Reuters.
  25. ^ "India's navy deploys warships to Arabian Sea after tanker attack". Al Jazeera. 26 December 2023.
  26. ^ "India stations two destroyers off the coast of Aden for maritime security". 19 December 2023.
  27. ^ Wynder, Ehren (28 December 2023). "U.S. Treasury targets network financing Houthi attacks". UPI.
  28. ^ Gritten, David. "US and UK navies repel largest Houthi attack on Red Sea shipping". ABC News.
  29. ^ "Iran-backed militias in Iraq: if Yemen is attacked, we will hit US base". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  30. ^ Watson, Eleanor (11 January 2024). "U.S. and U.K. striking Houthi targets in Yemen to retaliate for spate of attacks". CBS News. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  31. ^ Baldor, Lolita; Copp, Tara (11 January 2024). "US, British militaries launch massive retaliatory strike against Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024.
  32. ^ Landay, Jonathan; Mohammed, Arshad (11 January 2024). "UN Security Council demands Houthis stop Red Sea attacks". Reuters. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024.
  33. ^ Kube, Courtney; Stelloh, Tim (11 January 2024). "U.S. and Britain launch strikes against targets in Houthi-controlled Yemen". NBC News. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  34. ^ a b Schmitt, Eric; Cooper, Helene (11 January 2024). "U.S. Missiles Strike Targets in Yemen Linked to the Houthi Militia". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  35. ^ Liebermann, Oren; Britzky, Haley; Bertrand, Natasha; Marquardt, Alex; Lee, MJ; Hansler, Jennifer (11 January 2024). "US and UK carry out airstrikes against Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen". CNN. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  36. ^ Wickham, Alex; McBride, Courtney (11 January 2024). "UK's Sunak Authorizes Joint Military Strikes With US Against Houthis". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  37. ^ Gambrell, Jon (12 January 2024). "Houthi rebels say US-led strikes in Yemen killed 5 people and wounded 6, raising Mideast tensions". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
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