The U.S., Yemen and the risk of regional escalation
Post Reports
The Washington Post
4.4 • 5.1K Ratings
🗓️ 16 January 2024
⏱️ 18 minutes
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Summary
After the Biden administration launched airstrikes against Houthi fighters in Yemen, the group attacked a U.S. cargo carrier. U.S. officials say that their operations are limited and that they do not want to be drawn into a wider conflict – but is that possible?
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In the wake of Israel’s invasion of the Gaza Strip, Houthi rebels based in Yemen have been carrying out attacks on U.S. and British commercial ships. Last week, President Biden authorized airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. In response, Houthi fighters targeted more ships on Monday. On Tuesday, the United States launched more airstrikes against the Houthis.
U.S. officials defended last week’s strikes, calling them self-defense against the ship attacks, but the strikes have also raised questions about whether the fighting will evolve into a broader regional conflict, given the Houthis’ alliance with the Iranian government.
National security reporter Missy Ryan joins us today to explain the latest developments in the conflict.
Today's show was produced by Peter Bresnan, with help from Rennie Svirnovskiy, and guest hosted by Arjun Singh. It was mixed by Sam Bair and edited by Monica Campbell.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | So the United States, along with Britain, last week, conducted a series of |
| 0:06.2 | airstrikes hitting dozens of targets in areas of Huthy-controlled Yemen. |
| 0:11.1 | Missy Ryan is a national security reporter for the post, |
| 0:15.2 | and she's been following an emerging conflict |
| 0:17.2 | between a US-led coalition and a militant group |
| 0:20.1 | known as the Hoothes. |
| 0:22.1 | The airstrikes, which continued today, are in response to ongoing |
| 0:26.0 | huthie attacks on commercial ships transporting goods through the Red Sea. |
| 0:29.8 | That's a body of water that borders Saudi Arabia and Yemen. |
| 0:34.0 | Basically, the Biden administration has really been struggling to contain this campaign by |
| 0:40.0 | the Houthis to threaten ships, |
| 0:42.0 | transiting the Babyl Mandeb in the Red Sea. |
| 0:45.0 | And so this was an attempt to weaken their military ability. |
| 0:49.0 | Huthi leaders say they're attacking the ships in response to Israel's invasion of Gaza, |
| 0:58.0 | a conflict that's now been ongoing for more than 100 days |
| 1:02.0 | and has left more than 24,000 people in Gaza Dead. |
| 1:06.2 | And the Huthies have basically been using their proximity to these ships as a way to push back on Israel's campaign in Gaza and American |
| 1:16.8 | support for Israel in that operation. |
| 1:21.3 | From the Newsroom of the Washington Post, this is Post Reports. |
| 1:26.8 | I'm your guest host, Arjun Singh. |
| 1:29.3 | It's Tuesday, January 16th. |
| 1:32.4 | Today, why the US attacks on Huthy rebels and their counter |
... |
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