US national security policy is entering a gray zone of incomprehension. How do we know this? One clue is comparing how one nation responds to attacks on its military forces or homeland and how the United States does not. As the Middle East grows more dangerous, Israel has been dealing methodically and decisively with the barbaric terrorist organizations and malign state actors that surround it.
Israel Defends the Middle East
Israel suffered through a massive bombardment of more than 180 ballistic missiles and still pursued its campaign to destroy Hezbollah in Lebanon to its north. Additionally, after Iran-backed Houthi rebels launched missiles and drones from Yemen at Tel Aviv and Ashkelon, the Israel Defense Force (IDF) responded with massive airstrikes:
"Israel said it bombed Houthi targets in Yemen on [Sept. 29] in response to missile fire by the Iran-aligned militants at Israel over the past two days, marking another front in fighting in the Middle East. The Israeli strikes killed at least four people and wounded 29, the Houthi-run Health Ministry said in a statement, and residents said the bombing had caused power outages in most parts of the port city of Hodeidah."
Not allowing attacks on the Israeli homeland to go unanswered has become the trademark of the IDF. But the terrorists the IDF confronts are the same as the ones the White House has identified. It seems the United States lets Israel do all the heavy lifting. By contrast, after the Houthis launched dozens of anti-ship ballistic missiles at US warships, the Biden-Harris national security team has responded weakly, if at all.
In response to the renewed militia activities of Iran's proxies, US Central Command (CENTCOM) has attacked the Tehran-sponsored belligerents sporadically. "Central Command Forces conducted two targeted strikes in Syria, killing 37 terrorist operatives, including multiple senior leaders of the terrorist organizations of ISIS and Hurras al-Din, an Al Qaeda affiliate," the regional command posted on X. However, Houthi missile launches and attacks throughout the Red Sea area are not answered with convincing force.
In what has become an almost daily assault of anti-ship missiles, attack drones, and ballistic missiles, the Houthis have bombarded shipping in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait. On Sept. 27, "The USS Stockdale and USS Spruance, along with a littoral combat ship, the USS Indianapolis, were transiting the Bab al-Mandab Strait when the naval warships came under attack from a barrage of incoming ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones, the official said," Fox News reported. So far, the Biden-Harris administration has ordered no significant action to persuade the terrorists to behave.
Frustration With Biden-Harris
In an interview with Fox News, retired four-star Gen. Jack Keane conveyed the frustration many national security experts have with the Biden-Harris national security team. "And I think the United States should make up its mind to take the Houthis off the board. They have shut down the Suez Canal for months. They've fired on US Navy warships with anti-ship ballistic missiles, and we are still playing defense with these guys. It makes no sense whatsoever," Keane explained in exasperation.
In discussing the current Israel-Hezbollah-Hamas-Iran hostilities, US Defense Department spokesman Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder told the Pentagon press corps, "To be crystal clear, as Secretary [of Defense Lloyd] Austin has said, should Iran, its partners or its proxies use this moment to target American personnel or its interests in the region, the United States will take every necessary measure to defend our people." The recent Houthi rebel attacks on US warships are evidence that one Iran proxy group didn't get Austin's message. On the other hand, maybe the Houthis just don't care.
The views expressed are those of the author and not of any other affiliate.
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