Rubio Claims U.S. Airstrikes on Houthis are Beneficial for Global Security
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that U.S. airstrikes against Iran-backed Houthis are crucial for maintaining global shipping safety and U.S. military integrity. The strikes, announced by President Trump, aim to dismantle Houthi capabilities, combat piracy in key shipping lanes, and reassure a commitment to prolonged military action as needed to ensure security.
On Sunday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio remarked that U.S. airstrikes targeting the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen are essential to safeguarding global shipping and U.S. military interests. He stated that these actions are beneficial for the world, emphasizing their mission to dismantle the Houthis’ capacity to launch attacks. “We’re doing the entire world a favor by getting rid of these guys and their ability to strike global shipping,” Rubio noted during his appearance on “Face the Nation.”
President Trump authorized the airstrikes to ensure an end to Houthi shipping assaults, vowing to deploy “overwhelming lethal force.” U.S. Central Command affirmed the execution of these strikes and indicated the potential for an extended campaign lasting several weeks, contingent on Houthi and Iranian responses. Rubio mentioned that the Houthis have disrupted vital Red Sea transit channels crucial for international maritime logistics, exacerbating tensions when they pledged to resume attacks on Israeli vessels.
In January, Trump re-designated the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization, while the Biden administration temporarily rescinded this designation but later declared them a “Specially Designated Global Terror Group.” Rubio stressed that the current strikes are not merely retaliatory, but a sustained effort to impede the Houthis’ operational capabilities, stating, “This is not a message; this is an effort to deny them the ability to continue to constrict and control shipping.”
Highlighting the impact of Houthi attacks, Rubio revealed that in the past 18 months, they have targeted 174 U.S. naval vessels and conducted 145 assaults on commercial shipping. He described the Houthis’ actions as akin to a piracy campaign against significant shipping lanes worldwide, deeming such activities “not sustainable.”
Rubio projected that the military campaign would persist until the Houthis lose their capacity to strike. While he did not anticipate ground operations, he reported the effectiveness of the airstrikes, noting that several key figures in the missile launches had been eliminated, and critical facilities had been destroyed, assuring that the U.S. will not allow further attacks on its naval forces under Trump’s administration.
“We’re not going to have people sitting around with the missiles attacking the U.S. Navy. It’s not going to happen. Not under President Trump,” Rubio asserted.
In summary, Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s comments on the U.S. airstrikes against Iranian-aligned Houthis underscore a strategic effort to protect global shipping and U.S. military interests. The strikes aim to dismantle the Houthis’ operational capabilities while reaffirming a long-term commitment to countering their influence in critical maritime routes. Rubio’s assertions indicate that the U.S. is prepared to take decisive actions against threats to international security in the region.
Original Source: www.cbsnews.com
