Iran And Its Proxies Have Attacked American Forces And International Commerce With Impunity For Three Months

‘Tehran Is Exploiting The U.S. Fear Of Escalation To Its Own Benefit’

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL EDITORIAL BOARD: “[President] Biden’s highest priority, whispered by the White House every day, is avoiding escalation with Iran or its proxies. Mr. Biden is afraid … of being involved in a larger conflict … But that anxiety is now interfering with his core obligation to defend U.S. forces.” (Editorial, “Biden Endangers U.S. Troops,” The Wall Street Journal, 12/26/2023)

• “Iranian front groups have been trying to kill U.S. troops for months. Yet Mr. Biden offered the military equivalent of a wrist slap after Americans suffered traumatic brain injuries in attacks this autumn…. Americans who sign up to serve in uniform know the risks, but serving as drone catchers because Washington refuses to deter the enemy isn’t supposed to be among the occupational hazards. And Mr. Biden’s token strikes haven’t deterred Iran’s proxies in Iraq or anywhere else.” (Editorial, “Biden Endangers U.S. Troops,” The Wall Street Journal, 12/26/2023)

• “The U.S. hasn’t punished the Houthis for taking the world economy hostage, though the U.S. knows the location of Houthi launch sites, radars, weapons and military leadership. The Houthis are betting the U.S. and friends lack the political will to punish their piracy.” (Editorial, “Biden Endangers U.S. Troops,” The Wall Street Journal, 12/26/2023)

• “Tehran is exploiting the U.S. fear of escalation to its own benefit. The irony is that the biggest tonic for disorder in the Middle East would be restoring American deterrence.” (Editorial, “Biden Endangers U.S. Troops,” The Wall Street Journal, 12/26/2023)

• “Sooner or later the U.S. and its allies will have to reestablish deterrence if they want a more stable Middle East, and that means dealing with Iran.” (Editorial, “Iran, The Fulcrum Of Mideast Violence,” The Wall Street Journal, 1/03/2024)

Iran Is Brazenly Using Hamas’ Assault On Israel As An Opportunity For Its Proxies To Attack U.S. Troops And Allies Throughout The Middle East

“The Gaza war has given Iran the opportunity to showcase the capacity of its newly restructured network of allied militias, demonstrating Tehran’s strategic reach while allowing it to keep a distance from the fight, according to members of the groups and military analysts.” (“Iran Showcases Its Reach With Militia Attacks Across Middle East,” The Washington Post, 1/01/2024)

• “On any given day since the Oct. 7 Hamas assault on Israel, one or other of these militias has carried out an attack somewhere in the Middle East — and on some days several in different places.” (“Iran Showcases Its Reach With Militia Attacks Across Middle East,” The Washington Post, 1/01/2024)

• “Since Oct. 7, there have been more than 100 attacks by pro-Iranian militias against U.S. forces in Syria and Iraq, with the U.S. conducting several strikes in retaliation.” (“Amid Gaza War, Regional Escalation Draws U.S. Deeper Into Middle East Crisis,” Axios, 1/04/2024)

“The Houthis in Yemen are targeting ships in the Red Sea; Kataib Hezbollah and other Iraqi groups are hitting U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria; and Lebanon’s Hezbollah is engaged in daily exchanges of fire with Israeli forces across the Israel-Lebanon border.” (“Iran Showcases Its Reach With Militia Attacks Across Middle East,” The Washington Post, 1/01/2024)

• “Although the groups seem unrelated — a rebel organization in Yemen; a guerrilla movement in Lebanon; and militias formed to fight U.S. troops in Iraq — they all have one thing in common: their loyalty to Iran, which arms, finances and inspires them, the members of the groups and analysts said.” (“Iran Showcases Its Reach With Militia Attacks Across Middle East,” The Washington Post, 1/01/2024)

“In interviews, officials associated with three of the main groups described a level of coordination previously unmatched in the nearly two decades since Iran began cultivating a variety of local allies as a way of extending its regional influence. Representatives of the militias collaborate and consult through a joint operations room that meets regularly, typically but not always, in Beirut, they said.” (“Iran Showcases Its Reach With Militia Attacks Across Middle East,” The Washington Post, 1/01/2024)

• “Iran’s paramilitary forces are providing real-time intelligence and weaponry, including drones and missiles, to Yemen’s Houthis that the rebels are using to target ships passing through the Red Sea, Western and regional security officials said. Tracking information gathered by a Red Sea surveillance vessel controlled by Iran’s paramilitary forces is given to the Houthis, who have used it to attack commercial vessels passing through the Bab el-Mandeb strait in recent days, according to the officials.” (“Iranian Spy Ship Helps Houthis Direct Attacks on Red Sea Vessels,” The Wall Street Journal, 12/22/2023)

Since October, Iran-Backed Houthi Rebels In Yemen ‘Have Launched Scores Of One-Way Attack Drones And Missiles At Commercial Vessels’ And Even U.S. Navy Assets

“Since late October, the Houthis have launched scores of one-way attack drones and missiles at commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea. U.S. Navy warships have also intercepted ballistic missiles the Pentagon says were headed toward Israel. [Vice Admiral Brad] Cooper said a total of 61 missiles and drones have been shot down by U.S. warships.” (“Houthis Launch Sea Drone To Attack Ships Hours After US, Allies Issue Final Warning,” The Associated Press, 1/04/2024)

• “An hourslong firefight involving U.S. commercial vessels in the Red Sea [in early December] has left some U.S. officials frustrated by what they see as the Biden administration’s deliberate downplaying of a major threat to American forces.” (“US Officials Frustrated By Biden Administration’s Response To Attacks In Red Sea,” Politico, 12/04/2023)

• “After the Houthis launched their most direct attack on the U.S. military on New Year's Eve, firing on U.S. Navy helicopters from small boats, the helicopters returned fire, sinking three boats and killing 10 fighters, the U.S. military said.” (“As Calls Grow For A Tougher Response To Houthi Attacks On Red Sea Ships, Biden Officials Meet To Discuss Military Options,” NBC News, 1/03/2024)

• “An armed unmanned surface vessel launched from Houthi-controlled Yemen got within a ‘couple of miles’ of U.S. Navy and commercial vessels in the Red Sea before detonating on [January 4^th], just hours after the White House and a host of partner nations issued a final warning to the Iran-backed militia group to cease the attacks or face potential military action.” (“Houthis Launch Sea Drone To Attack Ships Hours After US, Allies Issue Final Warning,” The Associated Press, 1/04/2024)

• “The US Navy shot down 21 Houthi missiles and drones launched from Yemen, according to a statement from US Central Command, in one of the largest Houthi attacks to take place in the Red Sea in recent months. The military called it a ‘complex attack’ carried out by the Iranian-backed militants. The barrage, launched at about 9:15 p.m. [January 9^th] in Yemen, included 18 one-way attack drones, two anti-ship cruise missiles and one anti-ship ballistic missile, Central Command said. The attack was launched toward international shipping lanes in the southern Red Sea where ‘dozens’ of merchant vessels were traveling, according to the statement. Two defense officials had earlier told CNN that the barrage included a total of 24 drones and missiles…. Two US destroyers, as well as F-18 fighter jets from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier, participated in the combined effort to shoot down the missiles and drones, according to Central Command. The HMS Diamond, an air defence destroyer from the UK’s Royal Navy, was also part of the effort.” (“US Navy Shoots Down Barrage Of Houthi Missiles And Drones Launched From Yemen Over Red Sea, US Central Command Says,” CNN, 1/10/2024)

“[F]our other officials with knowledge of the discussions said in interviews that U.S. naval forces are clearly under threat in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf.” (“US Officials Frustrated By Biden Administration’s Response To Attacks In Red Sea,” Politico, 12/04/2023)

• “‘If our ships see something is coming near them or toward them, they are going to assess it as a threat and shoot it down,’ said one DOD official, who like others in this story was granted anonymity to discuss a sensitive topic. ‘You’d be hard-pressed to find another time’ U.S. ships have been this challenged in the region.” (“US Officials Frustrated By Biden Administration’s Response To Attacks In Red Sea,” Politico, 12/04/2023)

‘The Houthi Attacks Have Had An Effect On The Global Economy’

“The Houthi attacks have had an effect on the global economy. Most oil tankers and containerships are still avoiding that route and going around Africa. On Tuesday, the Danish shipping company A.P. Moller-Maersk said it would avoid the Red Sea route.” (“U.S., Allies Give Houthis Ultimatum: Stop Ship Attacks or Face Consequences,” The Wall Street Journal, 1/03/2024)

• “The Houthi attacks have significantly hampered the freedom of navigation in one of the world's main commercial shipping routes and led to a rise in prices globally.” (“Amid Gaza War, Regional Escalation Draws U.S. Deeper Into Middle East Crisis,” Axios, 1/04/2024)

• “‘Nearly 15 percent of global seaborne trade passes through the Red Sea, including 8% of global grain trade, 12 percent of seaborne-traded oil and 8% of the world’s liquefied natural gas trade,’ the joint statement read.” (“U.S., Allies Give Houthis Ultimatum: Stop Ship Attacks or Face Consequences,” The Wall Street Journal, 1/03/2024)

• “The list of signatories included the U.S., Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Britain, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Singapore.” (“U.S., Allies Give Houthis Ultimatum: Stop Ship Attacks or Face Consequences,” The Wall Street Journal, 1/03/2024)

“About 18 shipping companies have decided to reroute vessels around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa rather than transit the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, said Arsenio Dominguez, the secretary-general of the U.N.’s International Maritime Organization.” (“U.S., Allies Give Houthis Ultimatum: Stop Ship Attacks or Face Consequences,” The Wall Street Journal, 1/03/2024)

“Keeping international commerce flowing is one of the U.S. Navy’s primary missions…” (“A $2M Missile Vs. A $2,000 Drone: Pentagon Worried Over Cost Of Houthi Attacks,” Politico, 12/20/2023)

‘Pentagon Officials Are Increasingly Alarmed Not Just At The Threat To U.S. Naval Forces And International Shipping — But At The Growing Cost Of Keeping Them Safe’

“As American warships rack up kills against Houthi drones and missiles in the Red Sea, Pentagon officials are increasingly alarmed not just at the threat to U.S. naval forces and international shipping — but at the growing cost of keeping them safe.” (“A $2M Missile Vs. A $2,000 Drone: Pentagon Worried Over Cost Of Houthi Attacks,” Politico, 12/20/2023)

“The cost of using expensive naval missiles — which can run up to $2.1 million a shot — to destroy unsophisticated Houthi drones — estimated at a few thousand dollars each — is a growing concern, according to three other DOD officials.” (“A $2M Missile Vs. A $2,000 Drone: Pentagon Worried Over Cost Of Houthi Attacks,” Politico, 12/20/2023)

“‘Right now, [the] U.S. does not seem to have a better option other than what it is using,’ said Samuel Bendett, an adviser with the Center for Naval Analyses, a federally funded think tank for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. He drew a parallel of the DOD’s capabilities to Ukraine’s, as it shoots down Russian drones. ‘Obviously, that’s a different domain — shooting Houthi drones at sea may be a different-order task, but it seems that driving down the cost of such defenses is essential in the long term,’ Bendett said.” (“A $2M Missile Vs. A $2,000 Drone: Pentagon Worried Over Cost Of Houthi Attacks,” Politico, 12/20/2023)

‘So Far, The White House Has Not Approved Any Of The Options For Strikes’ In Retaliation While Tehran And Its Houthi Proxies Continue To Ignore Toothless Pleas From The Biden Administration

“The U.S. has for months behind the scenes urged Tehran to persuade the proxies to scale back their attacks. But officials say they have not seen any sign that the groups have begun to decrease their targeting and worry the violence will only surge in the coming days.” (“The War In Gaza May Widen. The Biden Admin Is Getting Ready For It.” Politico, 1/04/2024)

• “The Biden administration has been cautious about using force, seeking to protect the prospects for a diplomatic resolution to the Yemen conflict and avoid becoming entangled in a tit-for-tat confrontation with Houthis, whom some American officials view as an unpredictable wild card.” (“U.S., Allies Give Houthis Ultimatum: Stop Ship Attacks or Face Consequences,” The Wall Street Journal, 1/03/2024)

“So far, the White House has not approved any of the options for strikes on the Yemen-based rebels that have been prepared by the U.S. military, current and former officials said.” (“As Calls Grow For A Tougher Response To Houthi Attacks On Red Sea Ships, Biden Officials Meet To Discuss Military Options,” NBC News, 1/03/2024)

“A statement [last week] signed by the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom gave the Houthis what a senior Biden administration official described as a final warning.” (“Houthis Launch Sea Drone To Attack Ships Hours After US, Allies Issue Final Warning,” The Associated Press, 1/04/2024)

Current And Former Defense Officials Are Critical Of The Biden Administration’s Failure To Respond: ‘We’re Not Deterring Anybody Right Now’

“Current defense officials, as well as former senior U.S. officials, have argued that shooting down drones is not enough to deter the increasingly bold attacks and want Biden to take more forceful action, the officials said.” (“As Calls Grow For A Tougher Response To Houthi Attacks On Red Sea Ships, Biden Officials Meet To Discuss Military Options,” NBC News, 1/03/2024)

“But former national security officials said the Biden administration needs to do more to deter the Houthis from attacking ships in the Red Sea — and other Iran-backed groups from launching additional attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria.” (“US Officials Frustrated By Biden Administration’s Response To Attacks In Red Sea,” Politico, 12/04/2023)

• “A separate U.S. official argued the administration was downplaying the seriousness of the situation in the Red Sea in order to avoid escalating tensions in a region that’s already on edge over the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.” (“US Officials Frustrated By Biden Administration’s Response To Attacks In Red Sea,” Politico, 12/04/2023)

• “‘Near to immediate term, where are the strikes on [Houthi] targets?’ wrote Marc Polymeropoulos, former CIA official, on X. ‘Need to see this ASAP.’” (“US Officials Frustrated By Biden Administration’s Response To Attacks In Red Sea,” Politico, 12/04/2023)

• “Retired Vice Adm. John Miller, the former commander of U.S. 5th Fleet, said that ‘We are not taking this seriously,’ adding that the attacks both at sea and in Iraq and Syria ‘have gone largely unanswered.’ ‘We’re not deterring anybody right now,’ Miller said.” (“US Officials Frustrated By Biden Administration’s Response To Attacks In Red Sea,” Politico, 12/04/2023)