He unleashed a firestorm on the Houthi.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced yesterday morning (February 4th) that it had, together with the British military, carried out attacks targeting 36 Houthi forces at 13 locations in Yemen. The attacks destroyed underground weapons storage facilities, missile systems, command and control centers, drone (UAV) depots, radar, and helicopters.

Second wave of retaliation

This is the second major US operation against organizations linked to Iran, in response to attacks targeting international shipping and US forces in the region, including one that killed US soldiers in Jordan on January 28. In the operation, which began on February 2, the US launched more than 125 weapons targeting over 85 armed groups in Iraq and Syria accused of being behind the Jordan attack.

Conflict points: US and UK continue fighting Houthi; What did the Polish president say about Crimea?

In a statement yesterday, CENTCOM said the US and UK airstrikes were in response to Houthi illegal and destabilizing activities, including repeated missile and drone attacks on international commercial ships and US warships in the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden. CENTCOM also stated that it carried out a defensive strike and destroyed Houthi cruise missiles that were being prepared for launch at ships in the Red Sea.

Fighter jets took off from a US aircraft carrier to bomb Houthi rebels on February 3.

Since the conflict between Hamas and Israel erupted in October 2023, US and allied forces in the Middle East have suffered more than 165 attacks, and Washington has retaliated. However, the attack in Jordan, which killed three US soldiers and injured more than 40 others, is considered the final straw, putting pressure on the White House from Congress to take stronger action. The US accuses Iranian-backed armed groups of being behind the attack, while Tehran denies any involvement. White House officials said a strong response would be carried out in several phases but also emphasized that they do not want the conflict in the Middle East to escalate or for war with Iran to break out.

The Iraqi and Syrian governments condemned the US action on February 2, while Iran warned that such retaliation would only increase tensions and instability. According to CNN, the UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on February 5 at Russia's request to discuss the US airstrikes in Iraq and Syria.

Waiting for Iran's move

While the parties assess the damage, the question is whether Iran will retaliate or accept de-escalation.

According to an analysis by The New York Times , the expectation of the US and its allies is that Iran will choose the second option, seeing no benefit in engaging in a tit-for-tat exchange with a much larger adversary, coupled with the inherent risks. However, it is uncertain whether Iranian proxy groups will accept this option. Following the second round of bombing last night, Houthi spokesman Nasr al-Din Amer said that Western forces would not be safe without peace for Yemen, Palestine, and the Gaza Strip. "We will use escalation to respond to escalation," the official declared.

Famine is rampant in Gaza.

According to Professor Peter Bergen of Arizona State University (USA) – a national security analyst for CNN – Washington's retaliation is unlikely to stop Iranian proxy groups from attacking US targets and maritime operations in the region, as seen after previous US airstrikes. The expert suggests that the only way to mitigate the possibility of a wider conflict in the region is for the US to focus on addressing the root cause: the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

The US House of Representatives unveils aid bill for Israel.

The Republican-controlled US House of Representatives has unveiled a $17.6 billion military aid bill for Israel, excluding aid for Ukraine, Taiwan, and border issues, unlike the bill soon to be introduced by Senate Democrats. According to CNN, the bill will be brought before the full House for a vote next week. House Speaker Mike Johnson urged senators to abandon attempts to link the Israeli aid to other issues.

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