On January 11, after weeks of procrastination, US and UK forces launched a series of more than sixty air strikes against positions of the Ansar Allah movement, known as the Huthis, in Yemen. Officially intended to deter the Huthis from continuing their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, these and subsequent US strikes are a significant escalation in the current Middle East crisis, centered on Israel’s genocidal attacks on Gaza and its population.

Initially described as “one-off,” the strikes have been taking place almost daily and will continue. The US and UK governments claim that their campaign is designed to ensure internationally recognized freedom of navigation. Another justification, for the benefit of European public opinion, focuses on the potential impact of Huthi action in the Red Sea on inflation and delivery delays due to the diversion route around Africa.

The United States has stated that it is not conducting the strikes within the framework of the “Prosperity Guardian” task force it announced in mid-December, whose main characteristic is its insignificance. None of the states that border the Red Sea have joined, including Egypt, which is most affected by the loss of income from passages through the Suez Canal. Most major shipping lines are diverting their vessels around Africa, increasing costs and delays.