News - Yemen:  The "Houthis" have successfully deterred ships from passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, shipping companies are avoiding the strait until stability is restored in the region, Admiral George Wikoff, Commander of the US Naval Forces in the Middle East stated.

Wikoff noted that attacks on ships typically cause "little" damage, while efforts continue to maintain current positions and pressure the "Houthis" to cease their activities in the Red Sea. He admitted that military operations have not stopped the "Houthis", citing challenges in finding a center of gravity for more effective deterrence.

Wikoff also mentioned that the "Houthis' capabilities" are not solely reliant on Iranian support, as they are "diversifying" where they receive support from and are domestically developing their own capabilities.

"Our assessment right now is — and we're certainly trying to deny that capability to make it in — we do believe that the overall supply of the Houthis is far more complex," he said.

Yemenis have openly declared their support for Palestine's struggle against Zionist occupation since the regime launched a devastating war on Gaza on October 7, following the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm by Palestinian resistance movements.

The Yemeni forces have carried out scores of operations in support of the war-hit Gazans, striking targets throughout the occupied Palestinian territories, in addition to targeting Israeli ships or vessels heading towards ports in the occupied territories.

The Yemeni Armed Forces have declared that they will not cease retaliatory strikes. The maritime attacks have compelled major shipping and oil companies to suspend their voyages to the ports of the Zionist enemy.