The United States conducted numerous strikes across the Middle East over the weekend, while Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken headed to the region to advance negotiations for the release of Israelis still held hostage in Gaza and to increase humanitarian aid into the battered enclave.
The most recent strike took place in Yemen on Sunday, where the U.S. military destroyed an anti-ship cruise missile belonging to Houthi militants, which was deemed as an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region.
These strikes mark the third American military action against Iranian-backed militias in as many days, targeting Houthi militants in northern Yemen and carrying out airstrikes on more than 85 targets in Syria and Iraq.
American officials emphasize that the strikes have been carefully calculated to avoid sparking an open confrontation with Iran and claim that they have weakened the ability of the militias to attack U.S. forces. However, the militias remain formidable Iranian proxies, particularly the heavily armed Houthis in Yemen, and the strikes against them risk escalating hostilities.
During a four-day trip to the Middle East, Mr. Blinken is expected to visit Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Israel, and the West Bank. His primary goal is to secure an agreement for the release of the remaining hostages held since the Hamas-led attack on Israel in October and to establish a humanitarian pause in the conflict to facilitate the delivery of aid to civilians in Gaza.
Mr. Blinken will also engage in discussions with partners on establishing a more integrated, peaceful region that ensures lasting security for Israelis and Palestinians. The trip is Mr. Blinken’s fifth to the region since the war began, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
The strikes were largely in retaliation for a drone attack by an Iranian-backed militia that killed three American soldiers in Jordan on Jan. 28. American officials insisted that there had been no back-channel discussion with Tehran or any quiet agreement to avoid directly targeting Iran. They also warned of more steps to come in response to these attacks.
A spokesman for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the American-led strikes in Yemen, stating that they were stoking chaos, disorder, insecurity, and instability in the region.
The expectation is that the strikes will prompt Iran to back off, fearful of risking a shooting war with a far larger power. However, the actions of its proxies, which are heavily dependent on Tehran for funds, arms, and intelligence, are difficult to predict.
In particular, the Houthis have maintained their attacks on ships in the Red Sea, linking their fight to the Palestinians’ struggle against Israel in Gaza. Their attacks have disrupted the commercial shipping industry, forcing many vessels to take long detours around the southern tip of Africa.
Dealing with the Houthis is akin to fighting fog, as they possess numerous light weapons that are easy to conceal and challenging to locate. Even a determined effort to root out their stockpiles would take years.