General in threat to Houthi rebels saying US 'needs to squash them like a fly'
A US general has hit out at the Houthi rebels, claiming that America 'needs to squash them like a fly', after his country's navy reacted to the Iran-backed organisation's' war on the West' by sinking three militias boats in the Red Sea.
In the early hours of December 31, the first reported deadly clash between the US and Iran's terror proxy in Yemen took place. Needing desperate help, a Maersk container vessel sent out distress calls that the Houthis had taken fire at the ship. Consequently, the US Navy sent out choppers to try and bring an end to the violence. However, rather than prompting a resolution, the militia switched their fire towards the helicopter, resulting in the US responding by blowing up all three ships and killing the crew onboard.
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The US Central Command claimed this was an act of 'self-defence', and while retired US general, Ben Hodges, views the retaliation as a significant turning point in the crisis, he believes the time for holding back is long gone.
The Houthi rebels are standing alongside Hamas (YAHYA ARHAB/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)The former commander of the US army in Europe, told The Sun: "We should have never gotten to this point. The US needs to squash them like a fly. The Houthis are getting bolder and bolder... they have been probing and pushing to provoke a reaction - and now they've now found the point that the US will strike back."
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It comes after a US warship was left with no other choice but to shoot down two ballistic missiles fired from Yemen, which was just the latest of over 100 Houthi assaults on ships travelling through one of the world's largest shipping lanes.
The Militia group, who've joined forces with Hamas and control large swaths of Yemen, have asserted that they will demolish any ship they believe has ties to Israel or bound for Israeli ports.
Retired US General Ben Hodges wants the US to make a statement of intent (AP)The retired veteran is hopeful that his nation's major response on New Year's Eve will act as a catalyst to remind the Iranian terror proxy that the US is willing to fight fire with fire, explaining: "They will pay an enormous price if they try anything else."
However, Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, is not keen to lie down easily, claiming that the US will 'bear the consequences' of the attack, adding that his group will hit back against anyone who threatens them, saying they will face "negative repercussions."
The US and Britain are currently deciding how to tackle the situation (YAHYA ARHAB/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)Britain may fall into this category, as The Sunday Times report the military is preparing to launch several air strikes against the rebels. A Whitehall source has claimed that the strikes, in coordination with the US, would have the potential to involve RAF warplanes for the first time or the HMS Diamond.
In early December, the Royal Navy destroyer, stationed in the Red Sea, successfully foiled the plans of an attack drone launched by the Houthis with a Sea Viper missile. On Saturday evening, defence chiefs in Britain and the US, started discussing their options for an armed response on the militia's sites in Yemen.
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