In response to recent attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen on Red Sea ships, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has announced that the United States is preparing to take significant action to further disable Iran-backed militias. The attacks have targeted both commercial and military vessels, posing a serious threat to shipping routes crucial for global trade.

Despite hints from the US about imminent strikes, the Houthi rebels have continued their hostilities, firing a ballistic missile at a Liberian-flagged container ship in the Red Sea on Thursday. This attack follows a series of assaults on ships in the region since November, with the rebels targeting vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel.

During a press conference on Thursday, Secretary Austin emphasized the need to remove even more capability from these Iran-backed militias, stating that previous US strikes have not deterred their attacks. Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October, militant groups supported by Iran have launched over 166 attacks on US bases in Iraq and Syria, using rockets, missiles, and one-way attack drones. In response, the US military has conducted several airstrikes on the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The recent attack on Tower 22 in Jordan, which resulted in the deaths of three US service members, has been attributed to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias including Kataib Hezbollah. Although Iran has denied involvement, Secretary Austin highlighted that Iran sponsors these groups, regardless of their own knowledge of specific operations.

The US Defense Secretary emphasized that the adversaries possess a significant amount of capability, but assured that the US military is well-prepared to protect its troops. The Pentagon is continuing to investigate the forensics of the drone that struck Tower 22, a crucial base in northeastern Jordan that supports the American presence in neighboring Syria.

In response to the ongoing attacks, the US military has deployed significant assets to the region, including the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower, multiple warships, and Air Force fighter jets. These forces have been actively conducting strikes and defending ships from Houthi attacks. Late Wednesday, American F/A-18 fighter jets successfully destroyed ten Houthi drones that were ready to launch, as well as a ground control station used by the rebels. Additionally, the US intercepted a ballistic missile and other drones already in the air.

The Houthi rebels claim that their attacks on ships are in response to Israel's offensive in Gaza against Hamas. However, their actions have resulted in jeopardizing shipping in a vital route for global trade connecting Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

As tensions escalate, the United States is poised to take decisive action against the Houthi rebels and their Iran-backed supporters, with the aim of disabling their capabilities and protecting American forces and ships in the region. The international community will be closely monitoring these developments and their potential impact on global maritime trade.