The people of Yemen have taken to the streets several times since October 7 to show their fairly unison support for the Palestinians and their disgust for Israel. In the massive support markings, Palestinian and Yemeni flags will be flown. But there is also another flag flying around in the sea of people. A tattered flag with the slogan of the Houthi militia written in Arabic: “God is great.” Death to America. Death to Israel. A curse on the Jews. Saying to Islam”. The Houthi militia is closely allied with Iran. The slogan in the Houthi flag is based on the motto from the Islamic revolution in Iran, “death to the US and death to Israel”. Photo: Khaled Abdullah / Reuters The Shia Muslim rebel group currently controls 30 percent of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, and thus two thirds of the population are subject to their rule. A government that is characterized as oppressive, brutal, undemocratic and corrupt. But now the slogan of the Houthi militia coincides with general Yemeni values. Regardless of age and affiliation, the vast majority of them are on the side of the Palestinians in the war between Hamas and Israel. Palestinian resistance The Houthi militia has carried out a series of drone and missile attacks against ships in the Red Sea and against Israel since 7 October. Two Norwegian-owned ships have also been hit in the attack. At the beginning of December, a spokesperson for the Houthis stated that they will attack all ships that are on their way to Israel, regardless of nationality, until sufficient food and medicine are sent to Gaza. Stig Jarle Hansen, professor at NMBU and Yemen expert, calls it an attempt at a blockade by Israel, but that the attempt has limited effect. He receives support from Thomas Juneau, associate professor of international relations at the University of Ottawa and researcher at the Sanaa Center. Tuneau believes that the Houthis want to give the impression that they are contributing to the Palestinian resistance, without directly doing so. The Houthis have gradually taken control of a larger area in Yemen since 2011. In 2014, they took control of the capital, and a civil war broke out. Photo: Mohamed al-Sayaghi / Reuters Desire for regional recognition But their main goal is regional and international attention, something they have certainly achieved, say the experts. In a fragmented country without a common leadership, the Houthi militia wants to establish itself as a resistant and powerful actor internally in the country, but also in the region. Although the attack does not have direct consequences for Israel and the Palestinians in Gaza, it affects the world economy and international trade. Due to fear of attack, many commercial ships now avoid the routes in the Red Sea and thus also the Suez Canal, one of the world’s most important trade routes. This has direct consequences for world trade. In November, Houthi soldiers hijacked the commercial Israeli ship Galaxy Leader in the Red Sea. Photo: Houthi Military Media / Reuters The United States has now gathered ten countries and created a maritime protection force in the Red Sea. The purpose is to ensure safe passage for ships, and Norway contributes ten staff officers. But Houthi spokesperson Mohammed al-Bukhaiti was not intimidated: – Even if America succeeds in mobilizing the whole world, our military operations will not stop, unless the genocide in Gaza stops. The Houthis were on the US’s terrorist list for a long time, but were removed from the list in 2021. Then President Joe Biden declared the Houthi militia as “a legitimate actor” to negotiate with. Until 2022, the international community sided with the former Hadi government, which is supported by Saudi Arabia. A government that is not seen as legitimate by the Yemenis themselves. In light of the attack, the US is considering putting the Houthis back on the terror list. They will not stop The only thing that is certain in the future is that the Houthi militia will not be intimidated by the US maritime force, and that they will continue with the attacks in the Red Sea. The chance that the Houthi attack will escalate in scope from Yemen is minimal, according to the experts. The country is 2,000 km away from Israel. There is a limit to what they can do from there. But what if someone tries to stop the attack in the Red Sea? If the attack will affect international trade to a significant extent, and the USA or other countries decide to counterattack, there is, on the other hand, a risk of escalation, experts believe. In that case from other territory, such as Hezbollah’s bazaar in Lebanon or from Iran. Houthi politician Mohammed Ali al-Houthi says that they will continue to fight against Israeli aggression, and that a US-led coalition in the Red Sea will not affect them. Photo: MOHAMMED HUWAIS / AFP The recent attacks in the Red Sea are seen as a blow in the face not only to the West and Israel, but also to Saudi Arabia. The bloody civil war in Yemen, in which Saudi Arabia was heavily involved, lasted eight years, a war the Houthis have largely emerged victorious from. At least militarily. The war put Yemen at the top of the world’s biggest humanitarian crises, according to the UN, and over 350,000 have lost their lives as a result of the war, either directly or indirectly. Even if the attack continues in the Red Sea, the situation in Yemen remains calm. The protracted and brutal civil war in the country has led to more than 80 per cent of the people being dependent on humanitarian aid and protection.
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This is why the Houthis attacked ships in the Red Sea – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
