International Efforts to Counter Houthi Attacks in Red Sea Intensify

The United States is seeking partners to expand a multinational naval task force in response to a rise in attacks on commercial vessels near Yemen by the Houthi rebels, who are aligned with Iran. The attacks have posed a significant threat to global shipping. The Biden administration's plan is to expand Combined Task Force 153, a military unit focused on the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, to deter the Houthi threats. However, it remains unclear whether the US and its partners will be able to deter the Houthis or address Israel's demands for forceful action. Measures such as military strikes or designating the Houthis as terrorists could complicate efforts to end the civil conflict in Yemen.