Houthi militants in Yemen are continuing their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, while the United States and its allies are maintaining a policy of issuing warnings and intercepting missiles in the area.
NTD spoke to Avi Melamed, a former Israeli intelligence official, about how best to deal with the attacks.
“What we see very clearly is that the Houthis and the Iranians are clearly not impressed. Neither by the United States’ warning nor by the international community warnings, and they are continuing and escalating their attacks,” he said, as he encouraged a more proactive approach.
“A proactive action by the United States and the allies that, basically, will charge a very significant fee from the Houthis that will make them understand that continuing those attacks is going to be involved in a high price for them. That’s the only way you deal with bullies.
“You don’t appease bullies, you make sure that they understand that it’s going to be hurtful and painful. Up until now, unfortunately, the Western coalition failed to express, to convey that message, and the outcome of that as we see, as an effect on the ground, is that those provocations, those attacks are continuing and escalate,” said Mr. Melamed.