US accuses Iran of planning Houthi attacks on Red Sea ships

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NEW YORK, Dec 23: The United States has accused Iran of extensive involvement in attacks carried out by Houthi rebels on commercial ships in the Red Sea. The White House, presenting newly declassified intelligence, alleges that Tehran provides the Yemeni rebel group with weapons and tactical intelligence. White House national security spokeswoman Adrienne Watson asserted that Iran played a significant role in planning operations against commercial vessels in the Red Sea, aligning with its longstanding support for the destabilizing actions of the Houthis in the region. Describing it as an international challenge requiring collective action, Watson emphasized the seriousness of the situation.

Visual analysis, as per the White House, revealed striking similarities between Iran’s KAS-04 drones and those used by the Houthis, along with consistent features in Iranian and Houthi missiles. Al Jazeera could not independently verify these claims. The Houthi rebels, controlling significant parts of Yemen, have launched numerous drone and missile attacks in the Red Sea, expressing solidarity with Palestinians amid Israeli bombardment in Gaza. These attacks have led to a rerouting of global trade, causing higher costs and delays in energy, food, and consumer goods deliveries.

Over a dozen shipping companies, including Mediterranean Shipping Company, CMA CGM, and AP Moller-Maersk, have suspended Red Sea transit due to the attacks. In response, the U.S. announced a multinational force, involving more than 20 countries, to protect vessels in the Red Sea. Recently, a U.S. guided-missile destroyer intercepted 14 attack drones believed to originate from Houthi-controlled regions of Yemen. The Houthi leadership warned of retaliatory strikes against “American battleships” and interests if attacked.

While Tehran claims political support for the Houthis, it denies supplying weapons. Last month, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected Israeli accusations linking them to Houthi actions, including the seizure of an Israeli-owned ship. The Houthi rebellion, beginning in 2014, triggered a devastating civil war in Yemen, where a UN-brokered truce has been maintained with the Saudi-backed government since last year.

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