Houthi Missiles Are the World’s Problem

Attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on commercial traffic in the Red Sea are causing havoc in one of the world’s most critical waterways, disrupting shipping and endangering the global economy. The US has launched a new multinational task force to defend against further strikes. To restore stability, it must be prepared to go further.

Since Hamas’ brutal attack on Israel on Oct. 7, the Houthis — formally known as Ansar Allah — have launched salvos of missiles and kamikaze drones at Israel proper, merchant vessels with supposed Israeli connections, and now virtually any ship transiting the narrow Bab al-Mandab Strait, the southern chokepoint to the Red Sea. They have downed a US drone, used commandos to seize one cargo ship, and hit another in what may have been the world’s first successful anti-ship ballistic missile strike. US, French and British ships have repelled several other attempted attacks.