WASHINGTON, United States: The United States has vowed to hold Yemen’s Huthi rebels accountable for a strike on a bulk carrier that killed two people, apparently the first fatalities in the insurgents’ attacks on shipping.
“We will continue to hold them accountable. We call on governments around the world to do the same,” Matthew Miller, State Department spokesman, told reporters on Wednesday.
The Houthi rebels, who control much of Yemen and are backed by Iran, have declared solidarity with the Palestinians as Israel bombards Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip in response to the Oct. 7 attack and attacks on ships in commercial waters.
The Huthi ship strikes “have not just disrupted international commerce, not just disrupted the freedom of navigation in international waters, and not just endangered seafarers, but now tragically killed a number of them,” Miller added.
When asked if the latest attack showed a failure of the US and UK strikes on the Huthis, Miller replied, “We have always made clear that this is going to be a long-term process, both to deter the Huthi attacks and to degrade their capabilities to carry them out.”
He said that the US was also encouraging other countries to make clear to the Huthis that “these attacks are irresponsible.”
