LONDON, February 29. /TASS/. The Houthi rebels have been attacking trade ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden twice as often after US and UK bombings, Iona Craig, British journalist specializing in Yemen and the Arabian Peninsula, said during her speech on the conflict in Yemen.
Speaking in London, Craig noted that the Houthi attacks have become more frequent after the January 12 joint US-British bombings. After these bombings, the Houthis carried out 21 attacks against various ships, while, during the same period before that, they carried out 15 such attacks, which makes a 40% increase. Although the US and the UK claimed that their actions reduced the Houthi’s capabilities, during the most recent three-year report period, the rebels carried out 44 attacks, which makes a more than 100% increase compared to what happened before the bombings, Craig said.
According to the journalist, the idea that the Western actions will restore stability in the Red Sea has failed. The US carried out over 200 airstrikes, but these attacks had a reverse effect, she underscored, adding that the number of companies that avoid sending its ships through the Red Sea has increased as well.