"Protecting Commercial Vessels: Biden Team Weighs Response to Houthi Attacks in Red Sea"

The Biden administration is cautious about retaliating against Houthi attacks in Yemen, despite proposals from some military officers for more forceful responses. While the attacks on civilian vessels drew a U.S. Navy warship into a firefight, U.S. intelligence officials have not confirmed that the warship was the intended target. Senior officials believe the Houthis were targeting assets with ties to Israel, not U.S. warships, but are concerned about the risk to American forces in the region. They are also worried that a major strike on Houthi positions could escalate the conflict and derail efforts to broker a cease-fire in Yemen. The U.S. is considering potential sanctions and discussing setting up an international maritime task force to counter the Houthi attacks.