Iran is providing financing, intelligence, and operational support to Houthi militants engaged in attacks on international commercial shipping in the Red Sea, the White House has acknowledged.
Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have aligned themselves with Hamas in Gaza, are impeding international commerce “with the direct support and facilitation of Iran,” according to White House National Security Council Spokesperson Adrienne Watson.
“We know that Iran was deeply involved in planning the operations against commercial vessels in the Red Sea,” Ms. Watson said in a statement obtained by The Epoch Times.
Houthi Attacks Creating Global Crisis
Houthi forces in Yemen have launched dozens of drone and missile attacks in the Red Sea since the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack in Israel.Ms. Watson said “Iranian support to these Houthi operations remains critical,” and that the regime in Tehran is providing “tactical intelligence” to allow the Houthis to precisely target both commercial and military vessels in the region.
“The Houthis are replicating Iran’s longstanding strategy to seize civilian vessels in maritime choke points,” she added, “as well as the specific tactics Iran has used, to include airlifting hijackers onto the vessel from helicopters with small boats providing security in their seizure of the Galaxy Leader in November.”
US Urges ‘Collective Action’ Against Iran-Backed Threat
U.S. and allied forces in the region have shot down numerous drones and missiles fired from Yemen since Oct. 7.Ms. Watson said that the unmanned systems and missiles appear to be the same type as those previously delivered from Iran to the Houthis.
“Since October, the Houthis have launched multiple Iranian medium-range ballistic missiles from Yemen towards Israel,” Ms. Watson said. “The group on 27 November also launched Iranian-designed ballistic missiles that impacted near a U.S. Destroyer.”
Ms. Watson said the crisis demanded a firm international response, and that “collective action” would be taken to stave off the threat posed by the Iranian-backed Houthis.
“The United States is building an international coalition with our allies and partners to respond to Houthi aggression in the Red Sea and support the safety of international commerce and maritime security and de-escalation across the region,” Ms. Watson said.
“These attacks on commercial shipping in international waters by the Houthis are a flagrant violation of international law and represent a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security.”
More than 20 countries have signed on to join a U.S.-led naval coalition, though it remains unclear at this time if the United States will call for direct military action against either the Houthis or Iran.
“We will not stand idly by if the Americans are tempted to escalate further and commit foolishness by targeting our country or waging war against it,” he said.
“Any American targeting of our country will be targeted by us, and we will make American battleships, interests, and navigation a target for our missiles, drones, and military operations.”