Middle East: What is behind the American and British attacks on Yemen? Will the war in Yemen expand?
Analysts say that the recent US and British airstrikes against Ansarullah’s positions will not do much to deter that group. The Americans and British were very careful not to launch these attacks from al-Udeid or UAE bases because neither Qatar, nor the UAE, nor Saudi Arabia wanted to be part of the conflict.
Analysts say that the British and American attacks on Yemen on Thursday night could turn Israel’s war against Gaza into a wider regional conflict and will not be very effective in deterring Ansarullah from future attacks by that group against ships bound for the Red Sea. American and British forces launched airstrikes against Houthi targets after attacking shipping vessels in the Red Sea. US and British strikes have targeted several cities in Yemen, including the country’s capital Sanaa, the western port city of Hodeidah, as well as Saada and Dhamar. Experts believe that the airstrikes will have little effect on weakening Ansarullah or stopping the attacks of that group. The attacks which Ansarallah announced were in response to Israel’s war against Gaza.
Andreas Craig, author and associate professor at the Department of Defense Studies, King’s College London, says that the international coalition that was recently created to stop Ansarullah’s operations in the Red Sea is facing a very difficult road. He added: “Britain and America want to send a strong message, but not so strong that it leads to a longer escalation of the conflict beyond the Gaza war. This will be difficult to achieve because there is no way to hit hard enough. In order to destroy the military capabilities of Ansarullah, it is not there. Also, it is difficult to act in the direction of deterring Ansarallah because that group acts as a network. If you look at the last 9 years of war in Yemen led by Saudi Arabia, it is quite clear. It may be that there is no possibility of deterring Ansarullah and actions in this direction have always been accompanied by failure. The recent attack was an attempt to avoid embarrassment caused by inaction, to protect the reputation and to preserve the image of the West’s determination to defend the freedom of navigation in the midst of Ansarallah’s incessant attacks. “.