A wave of attacks by the United States and militant groups in the Middle East over the past five days has raised U.S. concerns that the Israeli war on Hamas in Gaza could widen, with massive military strikes failing to stop Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.
Even with the United States and its allies launching more than 20 strikes against Houthi targets on Friday in response to their attacks on ships, the group continued its maritime attacks. Iran also struck sites in Iraq and Syria, which it said it targeted Israeli intelligence bases, followed by rocket and drone attacks in Pakistan.
The report saw that the chaotic wave of attacks and responses that included the United States, its allies and its adversaries, indicates not only that the Friday attack failed to deter the Houthis, but also that the wider regional war that the United States has spent months trying to avoid, may be getting closer to reality. What confirms the severity of the current situation is the expectation that the Biden administration will announce plans to re-designate the Houthis as a global terrorist organization, according to informed sources.
At the White House, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby confirmed that the United States is not seeking war and is not looking to expand what is happening, adding that the Houthis have a choice.
But in a speech to the Davos Economic Forum, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan warned that the widening of attacks means that “allies” must be vigilant against this possibility, instead of moving towards preventing escalation. We are on a path of escalation that we need to deal with.”
