Experts believe that the US-British strikes directed at the Houthis in Yemen will likely not stop the threats they pose in the Red Sea, according to an Agence France-Presse report.

Destruction of military infrastructure

On Thursday-Friday night, the United States and Britain launched more than 150 strikes on more than thirty military sites controlled by the Houthis. Washington announced on Friday evening that it had launched a new strike in Yemen.

The goal of the strikes is to destroy the infrastructure of drones, missiles, and radars that the Houthi militia has repeatedly used in recent weeks to target commercial ships in one of the most important international shipping lanes.

US General Douglas Sims said on Friday that the Houthis had already fired an anti-ship missile "in response" to the US-British strikes, and that the United States expected "retaliatory attempts" against the coup plotters who adopted a "strongly worded speech."

Iranian trainers and experts

For his part, John Alterman, director of the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, believes that the American and British strikes “reduce” the Houthi threat to commercial shipping, but “do not end it.”

He added, "The challenge lies in convincing the Houthis that further strikes (which they direct against ships) will be against their interests," noting that "it is not yet certain that they have reached this conclusion."

If attacks continue, the United States could continue to strike the Houthis and also target sites where Iranian trainers and experts are stationed, Jon Alterman said.

Senior Houthi military officials

For his part, Mark Schwartz, a retired American general and researcher at the RAND Center for Research, expected that Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea would continue, but perhaps on commercial ships more than military ones.

He added that the US-British operation currently hit military infrastructure, but the new strikes could target senior Houthi military officials.

However, Mark Schwartz explained that the Houthi coup plotters operate in cells and “hide among the civilian population,” which complicates access to their leaders.

For his part, Elliot Abrams, a Middle East researcher at the Council on Foreign Relations, said that the US-British strikes “were not a symbolic step.”

He added, "The Houthis may launch new attacks, but at a lower pace and intensity," adding that "Iran will ask them to calm down."

It is noteworthy that US President Joe Biden warned that he “will respond” if the Houthis continue their “unacceptable behavior,” while US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that the coup plotters will face “new consequences” if they do not stop their “illegal attacks.”