Will the U.S. Strike the Houthis For Saudi Arabia? | EYES ON GEOPOLITICS

In a recent episode of "Eyes on Geopolitics," hosts Jonathan Hack, Mark Polymeropoulos, Mick Mulroy, and Andy Milburn delved into the escalating geopolitical tensions across multiple fronts, with a primary focus on the Middle East, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and the broader implications for global alliances and energy markets.

The Houthi Threat and U.S. Policy in the Middle East

The discussion began with the immediate crisis in the Middle East, specifically the Houthis' consistent attacks on Saudi Arabia. Jonathan Hack initiated the conversation by highlighting the significant developments, including the buzzing activity on Twitter regarding a potential U.S. response. He noted that a B1-B bomber from the UK was rumored to be en route to Yemen or Iran, causing widespread panic on social media. The central question revolved around whether the U.S. would intervene militarily to defend Saudi Arabia, potentially escalating the conflict.

Mick Mulroy, a former CIA officer, provided crucial context, revealing that the U.S. has a ceasefire agreement with the Houthis, affirmed just last week in Oman. He stated that the U.S. had requested the Houthis not to close the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, a critical chokepoint. Mulroy emphasized that the Houthis are now in a stronger position to do so, having taken over key islands around the strait. The dilemma for the U.S. is whether to join militarily with the Saudis, potentially rupturing this agreement and leading to further escalation beyond just striking the Abqaiq-Yanbu petroline or attacking Saudi ships. Mulroy warned that if the Houthis were to target every ship, including those carrying the 21% of the world's energy supply through the Strait of Hormuz, it would lead to serious problems. He also highlighted the vulnerability of the Yanbu pipeline, which has been struck again, further impacting oil supplies.

Andy Milburn, a retired Marine Corps colonel, added that the Houthis are arguably the most capable of Iran's proxies. He noted that they have a greater indigenous capability to manufacture and sustain their systems than Hezbollah or any other proxy. Milburn explained that the Houthis are realizing their growing power in the region, similar to how Iran discovered the importance of the Strait of Hormuz. They are now directly negotiating with the U.S. and hosting visits from the IRGC, indicating a strong position to "call some shots" vis-à-vis Saudi Arabia and the Bab-el-Mandeb. He suggested that the Houthis might be trying to purchase security through negotiations with the U.S., not just against the Saudis but also against other Salafi-jihadist groups like Al-Qaeda in Eastern Yemen. Milburn concluded that the Houthis control over 250 miles of coastline, almost a third of which is within range of their anti-ship missiles, giving them significant leverage.