US and allies failed to stop Yemeni attacks (Axios on US intelligence)

Axios cited a recent U.S. intelligence report detailing the impact of Yemeni operations on international trade, noting that Yemenis have hijacked a vital commercial waterway using drones and missiles.

He also criticizes the United States and its allies for their failure to stop Yemeni attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

According to the report, these operations impose substantial economic costs, affecting more than 65 countries and prompting large shipping and energy companies to reorient their operations outside the region.

Container shipping through the Red Sea has fallen by around 90% since mid-February, disrupting 10-15% of global maritime trade, while insurance premiums for ship transits have soared by as much as 1%. of the value of ships during the same period.

Alternative routes around Africa add 11,000 nautical miles and require on average up to two weeks of travel time and $1 million in fuel.

The attacks, which began late last year, have targeted both commercial and military vessels linked to Israel, resulting in the strike of more than a dozen commercial vessels between November and March.

Several hijacking attempts were also reported, the report noted, adding that the sinking in March of the British cargo ship Rubymar, carrying 21,000 tonnes of fertilizer, had raised concerns about possible ecological disasters.

The report notes that the US Navy spent $1 billion on munitions to counter ballistic missiles, ship-targeting cruise missiles and explosive drones in the region.

He also claims that humanitarian aid to Gaza has been delayed due to Yemeni operations.

Behnam Ben Taleblu, of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, said Axios that the conflict is as much a political challenge as a military one, as he claims Iran is involved in Yemeni operations.

Read more: US Navy faces most intense fighting in Yemen since World War II: AP

It is worth recalling that transit in the Red Sea remained relatively stable for non-Israeli-affiliated vessels until the US and UK launched their naval coalition against Yemen.

Furthermore, Iranian authorities have repeatedly stated that they were in no way involved in Yemeni operations. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell himself noted that Ansar Allah is “fairly autonomous.”

Along the same lines, humanitarian aid to Gaza has been delayed not because of Yemeni operations but rather because of the Israeli blockade aimed at starving the Strip’s population.

Months of severe famine led to the deaths of many Palestinians in Gaza and inflicted lasting damage on children due to malnutrition, all before the official declaration of famine.

Palestinian media reported that more than 37 children have succumbed to hunger amid the ongoing Israeli aggression, with deaths occurring in various hospitals across Gaza. Notably, Kamal Adwan Hospital recorded around 30 child deaths due to this cause.

Read more: TUTOR ship hit by Yemen sinks, crew abandons ship: CENTCOM