US move 'attempt to gain political capital'

Recent airstrikes on Houthis will only escalate regional tensions, experts say

The recent US airstrikes on the Houthi forces aim to align with Israel in targeting anti-Israeli groups in the Middle East and to deter Iran, experts said, adding that the Donald Trump administration is also using these intensified attacks to gain political capital.

However, experts warn these strikes may not achieve their intended outcomes and could instead escalate regional tensions.

Since Trump announced large-scale airstrikes on Houthi forces in Yemen on Saturday, US military operations in Yemen have continued for five days, targeting military sites and homes. US media describe this as the most significant military action since Trump's second term began.

According to a statement from the Houthi-run health authority on Sunday, the death toll from the US airstrikes over the past days has increased to 53, including five children and two women.

The US said the operation aims to secure Red Sea shipping lanes threatened by Houthi attacks. The Houthi group in Yemen has launched attacks against what it calls Israel-bound ships or those affiliated with Israel in and around the Red Sea since November 2023, demanding an end to its military actions in Gaza.

A pause in Houthi assaults followed a January cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. However, as negotiations for a second-phase Gaza cease-fire stalled and aid remained blocked, the Houthis announced on March 11 that they would resume attacks on "Israel-linked" ships across the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden and Bab al-Mandab Strait until the crossings of the Gaza Strip are reopened and aid allowed in.

Shu Meng, an assistant professor at Shanghai International Studies University's Middle East Studies Institute, noted that Trump's military action against the Houthi forces was a calculated move, not a sudden decision.

"March's instability in the Red Sea gave Trump a suitable excuse for military actions, as Houthi attacks on US and Israeli merchant ships have long disrupted international trade in the region," she said.

"Beyond protecting merchant ships, the US also has several deeper strategic goals, including reinforcing support for Israel, coordinating with Israel to reshape the Middle East and curbing Iran's influence. Also, targeting the Houthis serves as a warning to Iran."

Different approach

"Domestically, with the Houthis being active during Joe Biden's presidency, Trump wants to showcase a different approach, emphasizing his decisiveness to gain strategic and political advantages," Shu said.

Days after the US launched its extensive military operation against Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, Israel carried out deadly bombardments across the Gaza Strip early on Tuesday, killing almost a thousand people in two days.

Niu Xinchun, executive director of the China-Arab Research Institute of Ningxia University, pointed out that the US essentially executed a preemptive strike.

"The US and Israel coordinate their actions, with the US handling the Houthis in the Red Sea, with Israel focusing on Gaza, a strategy in place for over a year," Niu explained. "The Red Sea and Gaza issues are closely interconnected. With conflict in Gaza and US actions against the Houthis, both regions are likely to remain in conflict for some time."

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the airstrikes would continue until Houthi attacks on US ships and drones cease. However, the Houthis responded on Wednesday by targeting the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier in the Red Sea for the fourth time in the past 72 hours.

Experts warn the US strikes may not meet their objectives. Shu Meng noted that the Houthis have strong local support in Yemen. "Relying solely on military strikes, especially targeting leaders, is unlikely to be effective and could provoke more frequent retaliatory attacks on merchant ships, worsening the Red Sea situation."

Niu echoed this, noting that while the US aims to deliver "devastating strikes" to weaken the Houthis' military strength, history shows that airstrikes alone are insufficient. "Devastating strikes require both air and ground forces, but the US is unlikely to commit ground troops. Thus, even with prolonged strikes and expanded targets, achieving US objectives is unlikely."

Shu said the complex issues in the Red Sea region stem from intertwined problems that cannot be solved by military means alone. "The unilateral actions of the US and Israel lack broad international support, potentially exacerbating tensions and complicating the situation," she said.

Xinhua contributed to this story.

yangran1@chinadaily.com.cn