Part 3/12:
To understand this oversight and its far-reaching effects, one must first be acquainted with the recent conflicts in the Middle East. The Houthis, who lead Yemen's resistance to foreign influence, launched attacks on merchant vessels in the Red Sea following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Recognizing the strategic significance of this waterway—critical for trade routes to Europe—the United States quickly initiated Operation Prosperity Guardian to safeguard navigation.