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UK support helps US sell Houthi attack to public

The UK joining forces with the US to degrade the Houthi rebels’ striking capabilities will make it easier for Joe Biden to “sell this at home”, an expert has said.

Andreas Krieg, an associate professor at King’s College London (KCL), says the US doesn’t need the UK from a military capabilities point of view, but Britain “brings a degree of legitimacy to the region because of its networks”.

Its support will also help the US president justify his decision to strike in Yemen with Congress and voters back at home.

“This special relationship in terms of global defence is something that requires both sides to contribute and both sides to stand firmly with one another in another coalition, and ultimately it’s easier for Biden to sell this at home, saying ‘Britain is on board as well’.”

Houthi attacks on commercial ships have forced shipping lines to send vessels on a longer, costlier route around Africa, creating fears of a new bout of inflation and supply chain disruption derailing the global economic recovery.

The RAF and US air force launched targeted strikes against military facilities used by Houthi rebels in Yemen overnight, with explosions heard in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa in the early hours of Friday local time. Blasts were also heard in Taiz, a south-western city near the Red Sea.

Professor Krieg said it was no surprise that Britain, which “sees itself as a global player”, decided to retaliate against attacks in the Red Sea as it has “always been a champion of freedom of navigation”, while the current situation in the region is an “intolerable” one.

Through its willingness to strike alongside the US, it is “sending a signal post-Brexit that we are here to support our friends in America when it comes to issues of the global commons”, he added.

A military spokesperson for the Houthi group said the strikes, which hit 16 separate sites, would not go without “punishment or retaliation”.

Mr Biden said the strikes were meant to demonstrate that the US and its allies “will not tolerate” the militant group’s ceaseless attacks on the Red Sea. He said they only made the move after attempts at diplomatic negotiations and careful deliberation.

According to Professor Krieg, the partnership between the UK and US will make it easier for the leaders of both countries to “explain” their decision to the Commons and Congress respectively.

“It’s just about broadening the coalition burden-sharing, it’s an element of showing a united front,” he said.

Discussions between the UK and US governments about possible military action began in December following increased attacks on Red Sea shipping from Houthi rebels, i understands.

The two sides have been “closely co-ordinated” in the run-up to the strikes, a Government insider said.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has been in close contact with his US counterpart Lloyd Austin and defence ministers from other allied countries over the past several weeks.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron also speaks to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken “on a regular basis”, a Government insider said.

The Ministry of Defence led the talks with the US government in the lead-up to the air strikes.

There was then a drop in activity from the Houthis after the US, UK and other countries issued a final warning to them to stop attacks last week.

However, when the rebels resumed assaults this week, including targeting US and UK warships in the region, the decision was made to act.

There are currently no plans for further US-UK strikes on Houthis, i has been told, but military officials from both countries are carrying out an assessment of the damage against the targets before deciding next steps.

The rebel group has been targeting ships just off the coast of Yemen in protest of Israel’s war on Gaza, in which more than 23,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Inside America’s strategic thinking

The US chose to strike as a method of “deterrence by punishment”, to send a “very strong message to the Houthis saying ‘you can’t continue this way’,” the expert said.

At the same time, it doesn’t want to escalate things too much, so that “Houthis don’t have to respond to that action”.

However, Professor Krieg also noted how Houthi rebels “aren’t really rational actors”.

“The question is whether the Houthis will consider this as a very limited escalation or whether they will interpret this as a punitive strike on their wider infrastructure.”

But the US will be seeking to make it clear to the Houthis that the coalition is merely targeting the rebels’ launching capabilities.

“This is not about Yemen, this is not about the Houthis, this is just about the freedom of navigation.”

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