In a remarkable development and about-face, the Biden administration is effectively waving the white flag in the face of constant Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea, attacks which have also involved the direct targeting of US, UK and Western warships.
Since the attacks began last year to 'punish' Israel, and dozens of offensive US strikes on Houthi positions later, the Iran-backed group has pressed on undeterred, and the 'Operation Prosperity Guardian' coalition has no solution. Shipping through the vital waterway has collapsed, Suez fees have dried up for Egypt, and Israel's ports sit largely empty.
But now the White House is mulling the removal of Yemen’s Ansarallah movement (the Houthis) from the US list of designated terrorist organizations should the Shia rebel group agree to halt its attacks. The current international headlines strongly point to the Houthis having 'won' in a direct months-long standoff with the most powerful military in the world.
