US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has defended US airstrikes against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, saying they are “doing the world a favor” by denying the group’s ability to strike global shipping and attack the US military.
The strikes, announced by President Trump on Saturday, target the Houthis’ ability to disrupt maritime traffic in the Red Sea, a crucial shipping lane. The US has previously targeted Houthi-held areas in Yemen but Rubio says the new strikes are part of an ongoing effort to deny the group’s capabilities.
The Houthis have been disrupting shipping for months and have attacked 174 US naval vessels over the past 18 months, as well as 145 commercial ships. Rubio described the situation as “unsustainable” and said that the US will continue its campaign until the Houthis can no longer carry out attacks on global shipping.
Rubio did not rule out further action but emphasized that ground raids are not currently necessary, saying that President Trump is committed to preventing future attacks. The secretary of state also noted that some key Houthi leaders and facilities have been targeted or eliminated, making it harder for the group to continue its attacks.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/marco-rubio-secretary-of-state-houthi-airstrikes-face-the-nation