US Has Limited Options Against the Houthis in the Red Sea : Analysis

Operation Prosperity Guardian (OPG), the US Navy-led coalition aimed at ensuring safe passage for international shipping in the Red Sea, is set to activate soon. However, three important NATO countries, France, Italy, and Spain, have chosen not to participate in the operation. The exact task of OPG has been vaguely defined as securing safe passage for commercial ships, but naval officers are looking for more precise tasks and clear mandates. The threat from the Houthis in Yemen, who have been targeting merchant ships with antiship missiles and drones, is well-defined. The missiles launched by the Houthis can damage but not sink large cargo ships. All missiles neutralized by US and French warships so far have been shot down using shipborne surface-to-air missiles. If the task of OPG were narrowly defined to prevent hits on merchant ships, sailing in convoys with the protection of warships would be sufficient. However, convoys have limitations, including the vulnerability of large cargo ships and the need to plan the use of limited missile resources. Ships would also be exposed to Houthi missiles and drones for an extended period while sailing through the Red Sea. The Houthi missile threat is a cause for concern, as they have demonstrated the ability to mount concentrated attacks from multiple directions. Military necessity may require attacks on Houthi missile infrastructure in Yemen to destroy their ship-targeting capability. This would likely involve the use of combat aircraft, such as US Navy bombers based on nuclear carriers. However, such attacks would carry political risks, as they could be seen as the West entering the Gaza war on the side of Israel. The US has been careful to avoid escalation and has engaged with regional powers to prevent further conflict. France, Italy, and Spain have chosen to deploy their frigates to the Red Sea unilaterally to protect their own ships, avoiding any responsibility for escalating the war.

Analysis:
This article discusses the upcoming activation of Operation Prosperity Guardian (OPG), a US Navy-led coalition aimed at ensuring safe passage for international shipping in the Red Sea. The article highlights that three important NATO countries, France, Italy, and Spain, have chosen not to participate in the operation. The threat from the Houthis in Yemen, who have been targeting merchant ships with anti-ship missiles and drones, is also mentioned.

The sources and credibility of the information in the article are not explicitly mentioned. As a result, it is difficult to assess the reliability or bias of the sources used. The article provides some analysis by discussing the potential limitations of using convoys to protect merchant ships and the possibility of conducting attacks on Houthi missile infrastructure. However, these claims are not supported by specific evidence or further context.

The article also mentions the political risks associated with attacking Houthi missile infrastructure, as it could be seen as the West entering the Gaza war on the side of Israel. However, this claim lacks clear evidence or analysis to fully evaluate its validity.

Overall, the article presents some relevant information but lacks in-depth analysis and credible sourcing. It is important for readers to seek additional sources and context to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the topic. The lack of clear evidence and analysis in this article can potentially contribute to misinformation or a limited understanding of the situation.

In terms of the political landscape and the prevalence of fake news, it is crucial for the public to be critical consumers of information and seek out multiple sources and perspectives. The political landscape and the prevalence of fake news can influence the public’s perception of the information by shaping their biases and beliefs. It is important for individuals to engage in fact-checking and critical thinking to discern reliable information from misinformation or biased narratives.

Source: Aljazeera news: Analysis: In the Red Sea, the US has no good options against the Houthis