Calls for Trump to Support Yemen’s Government Amid Escalating Houthi Attacks on Maritime Targets

Calls for Trump to Support Yemen’s Government Amid Escalating Houthi Attacks on Maritime Targets

The State Department recently criticized Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement for a series of lethal attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea and aimed at Israel. As the situation intensifies, there are renewed calls for President Donald Trump to intervene and support Yemen’s recognized government in its efforts to dismantle the Houthi regime.

Walid Phares, a prominent American Middle East specialist, spoke with Fox News Digital regarding these developments. He articulated his concerns about ongoing negotiations involving Hamas and Tehran, asserting that Iran is stalling to rearm and push forward its regional ambitions.

Phares emphasized the necessity for reassembling a ground force comprised of loyal units to the legitimate Yemeni government, currently in exile in Aden. He also highlighted the role of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), which boasts forces stationed in Aden and maintains strategic frontlines adjacent to Houthi-controlled areas. Recently, STC forces scored significant victories against the Khomeinist militias.

Phares, who previously advised Trump during his 2016 presidential candidacy, underscored the importance of U.S. support. He recommended that the United States back, fund, and train southern forces for renewed military operations along the vital Red Sea coast, particularly with the goal of retaking the strategic port city of Hodeidah. Meanwhile, he suggested that northern units loyal to the Yemeni government could advance toward the capital, Sanaa.

Such coordinated efforts, according to Phares, would pave the way for future negotiations—not with Tehran’s proxies, but with a federated Yemeni government that is aligned with pro-Western interests and free from Iranian influence.

Nonetheless, a stark reality persists. Back in May, Trump announced a halt to military air campaigns against the Houthis, suggesting that they seemed reluctant to engage in further conflict, a stance he pledged to respect. However, the Houthi attacks contradict this pledge, as the group has escalated its aggressive activities in the Red Sea.

The Department of Defense, through its spokesperson Sean Parnell, reiterated a commitment to remain vigilant. He indicated that the Department of Defense stands ready to respond to threats from any state or non-state actor seeking to increase tensions in the region. Parnell emphasized that aggressive measures would be taken if Iranian proxies jeopardized American personnel.

In the latest developments, reports indicate that Israel has actively responded to Houthi provocations. On July 7, Fox News Digital noted that Israeli forces exchanged missile fire with Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, targeting key facilities and ports used by the group.

Israel’s initial strikes were in direct response to a suspected Houthi assault on a Liberian-flagged cargo vessel in the Red Sea. This incident involved the use of explosives and gunfire, forcing the crew to abandon ship. The Houthis have yet to claim responsibility for this attack.

The Israeli military asserted that these targeted ports serve as crucial transfer points for weaponry supplied by Iran, which the Houthis use in their operations against Israel and its allies.

Tragically, recent Houthi attacks have led to significant loss of life. The sinking of the bulk carrier Magic Seas resulted in the presumed deaths of four individuals, with eleven others reported missing according to information from AP. Satellite images have documented long trails of oil slicks marking the aftermath of the bulk carrier Eternity C and the previously mentioned Magic Seas.

According to The Times of Israel, the Houthi rebels conducted these attacks on both vessels as part of an ongoing campaign targeting maritime assets amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This strategy has disrupted shipping routes through the Red Sea, which typically accounts for approximately one trillion dollars in trade each year.

A spokesperson from the State Department reiterated the U.S. condemnation of these attacks, citing the loss of life, injuries, and destruction of valuable cargo vessels. The spokesperson also expressed concerns that Houthi actions jeopardize sailors, undermine regional economies, and pose dire environmental risks.

This ongoing assault on global navigation rights, as well as risks posed to Israel, have raised alarms. The U.S. has affirmed its support for Israel’s right to defend itself against Houthi provocations.

Amidst the evolving situation, the Biden administration had previously declassified the Houthi movement, lifting its designation as a foreign terrorist organization. However, in a swift response, the Trump administration reinstated this designation in March, underscoring the complexities of the ongoing conflict.

The Houthi movement, known as Ansar Allah, has cultivated a slogan that starkly reveals its ideological stance, openly declaring enmity toward America and Israel while advocating for Islamic supremacy.

Fox News Digital’s Anders Hagstrom and AP contributed to this report.