The prospects of normalising maritime trade through the Red Sea by mid-2025 appear unlikely following recent military actions by the United States against Houthi rebel command structures in Yemen.
The U.S. confirmed conducting lethal airstrikes in Sana’a, the Yemeni capital, which is home to most of the Ansar Allah militia leadership.
While U.S. officials reported killing several Houthi leaders in the targeted operations, these claims have not been independently verified by the Houthis.
According to White House and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, senior members of the Iran-backed group were eliminated.
The U.S. referred to the airstrikes as “decisive and powerful,” with reports suggesting at least 53 deaths, including women and children.
The escalation comes amid fragile ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, where Israel recently halted aid deliveries and warned of “additional consequences” for Hamas.
Despite a truce earlier this year, the Houthis resumed their threats to international shipping, citing Israel’s blockade of aid to Gaza.
Following the airstrikes, the Israeli Air Force remains on high alert for potential missile and drone strikes, with Houthi retaliation threatening to further fuel regional tensions.
Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi has vowed to target U.S. vessels in the Red Sea indefinitely, positioning the conflict as part of a larger confrontation against “American and Israeli aggression.”
The Trump administration justified its attacks on the Houthis as a response to their Iran-backed strikes against maritime vessels in the Red Sea, emphasizing the need to protect “freedom of navigation.” U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the strikes were necessary, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pledged an “unrelenting” campaign until the Houthi attacks ceased.
The Houthis have already claimed retaliatory strikes on the USS Harry Truman aircraft carrier group, although U.S. forces intercepted and destroyed the missiles and drones.
While Washington maintains that its operations will restore safe passage for ocean freight through the Red Sea, the Houthis have warned of continued escalation, threatening further disruptions to commercial and naval traffic.
The Houthis have linked their maritime strategy to Israel’s actions in Gaza, warning of further attacks unless restrictions on aid are lifted.
This marks a significant intensification of U.S. military involvement in Yemen, with the Trump administration pledging to hold Iran “fully accountable” for its support of the Houthis.
Regional analysts fear that a cycle of retaliation could draw Tehran deeper into the conflict, further destabilising a region already struggling with the aftermath of Gaza’s unresolved ceasefire.
For now, attention remains focused on whether the Houthis will follow through on their threats to Israeli-linked shipping and how U.S. military actions may impact the Red Sea’s security.
