Footage has surfaced showing a suicide drone striking an oil tanker about 100 nautical miles northwest of Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah. The attack, which hit the tanker on its portside, has raised fears of a potential oil spill and highlighted ongoing issues with President Joe Biden’s Operation Prosperity Guardian.
The operation, aimed at curbing Houthi activities in the Red Sea, has faced criticism for its lack of effectiveness. Biden himself admitted in January that U.S. strikes in Yemen were not stopping Houthi attacks on global shipping but pledged to continue them regardless. “When you say working, are they stopping the Houthis, no. Are they going to continue, yes,” Biden told reporters.
The drone strike video was released by the Iran-backed Houthis, who have been targeting commercial ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since November. They claim these attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Since the inception of Biden’s campaign against them, the Houthis have expanded their attacks to include targets in the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean.
In May, the Houthis captured a $30 million U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone, adding to the embarrassment of the U.S. efforts in the region. This latest incident further underscores the challenges facing the Biden administration’s strategy in Yemen.
The drone strike and subsequent concerns about an oil spill illustrate the ongoing instability in the region. Critics argue that Biden’s approach has not only failed to deter the Houthis but has also potentially increased the threat to global shipping routes.
As the situation in Yemen continues to deteriorate, questions remain about the effectiveness of current U.S. policies and the future of Operation Prosperity Guardian. The ongoing conflict and its broader implications for regional security and global trade continue to be a significant challenge for the Biden administration.
