WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Houthi rebels in Yemen are likely to run out of materials for swarms of drones and anti-ship ballistic missiles as the speed of their attacks has slowed somewhat, the U. S. Air Force’s most sensible commander for the Middle East said on Wednesday.
Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, who heads the U. S. Central Air Force, said persistent U. S. retaliatory measures against Iranian-backed defense forces “have certainly affected their behavior. “Their speed of operations is what it used to be.
The Houthis have carried out almost daily attacks on advertising and military vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, launching drones and missiles from rebel-held spaces in Yemen. The attacks, which fail but rarely hit ships, have disrupted an important shipping lane.
In response, the U. S. and its allies have been forced to increase the presence of their military vessels along the waterway and have continually introduced broader retaliatory measures against munitions, weapons, and other facilities. Warships and warplanes also bombard Houthi drones and missiles that are in position and preparing to be introduced.
Grynkewich said it was unclear exactly how much weapons material for the Houthis was eroded by the U. S. strikes, as officials did not have a detailed assessment of their roles before the attacks began.
“The challenge for us is to perceive what the denominator was at the beginning. In other words, what did they have on hand to begin with?Obviously, we know how much we’ve got it right and we have an assessment of its success,” he said. “The other thing complicating the scenario is Iranian resupply. “
He said the U. S. believed the Houthis had dozens of anti-ship ballistic missiles when they started, and they introduced dozens. It is imperative to realize the extent to which Iran is able to resupply the group.
The Houthis have defined their crusade as a way to pressure Israel to end its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. However, the ships they targeted had little or no ties to Israel, the United States, or other countries involved in the war.
Speaking to reporters, Grynkewich said the Houthis are more independent and more difficult for Iran than other Tehran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria. These teams have largely suspended their attacks on U. S. forces founded in Iraq and Syria since early February, when the U. S. introduced a major retaliatory strike against equipment and sites connected to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.
U. S. officials said they believed pressure from Iran was part of the reason for the pause. But Grynkewich said the Houthis are “not as receptive” to Iranian guidance.
He said that even if Iran tried to crack down on the Houthis or cut off their weapons or supplies, it would take time before it took effect.
Privacy PolicyTerms of UseSubscribe to Our NewslettersSite Map
Follow
MORE