Top Senate Republican Open to Renewed U.S. Military Action Against Houthis Amid Red Sea Attacks
A senior U.S. lawmaker signaled that he is open to resuming American military operations against Yemen’s Houthi rebels, following a surge in the group’s attacks on Red Sea commercial shipping and Israel — just two months after a ceasefire paused the U.S.-led bombing campaign.
Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the Houthis remain a dangerous threat that must be neutralized.
“The Houthis need to be totally eliminated,” Wicker said. “They have no purpose other than to kill free people.”
When asked if he supports renewed U.S. military engagement against the Iran-backed group, Wicker responded, “I wouldn’t rule that out.”
His remarks come amid rising concern in Washington over the Houthis’ continued disruption of maritime routes and their expanding regional attacks, which many officials fear could threaten broader stability and U.S. strategic interests in the Middle East.