The Big Take
How Tiny Djibouti Said ‘No’ to the US Over Houthi Red Sea Attacks
The East African country is host to Chinese, French and US naval bases — but it has warned Washington not to use its territory to confront militants attacking global trade.
Captain Mohammed Houssein Omar patrols one of the most dangerous coastlines in the world. Until the Israel-Hamas conflict reignited seven months ago, it was largely people smugglers and drug traffickers that occupied his fleet of nearly 70 coastguard patrol boats. But since Houthi militants from neighboring Yemen began attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea, the coastguard officer has never been so stretched.
“Nobody deserves to be attacked with missiles,” he says. “Those targeted in the Red Sea are innocent, so we are there to help.”