# Houthi Rebels and Shipping **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 11, 2024, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/houthi-rebels-and-shipping/995980 "2024-01-11T23:15:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2024, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/houthi-rebels-and-shipping/995980/21 "2024-01-12T13:49:29Z")
They send a ship or two occasionally out there, but it’s not really a major presence. The PLA Navy is def building blue water capable ships and has plans to build more, but they don’t currently have experience in that theater or really push to gain it, outside of building ships and flying the flag. At least not currently, IMO. Actively patrolling the Red Sea and taking part in operations bigger than anti-piracy patrols (like striking land bases in Yemen) would be a great way to build that operational experience, which I’m glad they decline to do. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2024, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/houthi-rebels-and-shipping/995980/22 "2024-01-12T13:50:39Z")
> [@OldOlds](#): > > I take issue with that. I don’t think they’re “with us or against us” but you can’t dispute that the US carries more of the burden on these things than anyone else Sure. The US is a massive superpower, the most powerful country on Earth and by far the most powerful country in the sphere of nations aligned with it. It is by far the most capable of shouldering that burden. It also reaps the lion’s share of the benefits, directing global policy to an extent no other country can match. With great power comes great responsibility, right? ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2024, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/houthi-rebels-and-shipping/995980/23 "2024-01-12T13:54:06Z")
> [@Dorjan](#): > > They send a ship or two occasionally out there, but it’s not really a major presence. The PLA Navy is def building blue water capable ships and has plans to build more, but they don’t currently have experience in that theater or really push to gain it, outside of building ships and flying the flag. At least not currently, IMO. Actively patrolling the Red Sea and taking part in operations bigger than anti-piracy patrols (like striking land bases in Yemen) would be a great way to build that operational experience, which I’m glad they decline to do. Oh, I don’t think they’ll take the fight to the Houthis, no. I do think they will engage pirates and shoot down missiles, though, especially if ships flying linked to China get targeted. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2024, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/houthi-rebels-and-shipping/995980/24 "2024-01-12T14:10:24Z")
China’s got the whole Belt and Road thing going thru this area, so they’ve invested a lot so far in alliances and infrastructure. They’re probably keen on avoiding any enemy-making by use of military force, and hey, if the US wants to flex it’s muscles here… ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2024, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/houthi-rebels-and-shipping/995980/25 "2024-01-12T15:59:34Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > With great power comes great responsibility, right? I think I was clear that I support the US involvement. I think I was clear that I understand that the US has broader shoulders than the rest. That does not mean “the rest” have been holding up a commensurate share, and indeed that’s been a complaint of the US government for at least 20 years, And in the case of China, they’re getting a double-gift. We’re spending our money to protect what is largely their shipping, AND they’re getting to watch us suffer all the fallout. Is there no limit to how much the US should pay? Or how little others should pay? We’re shooting down $20,000 drones with $1,000,000 missiles. At some number of missiles it’s actually cheaper to go round the Cape of Good Hope. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2024, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/houthi-rebels-and-shipping/995980/26 "2024-01-12T17:37:00Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > I keep thinking of Hootie and the Blowfish That’s closer to how it’s pronounced. Word associations help me to remember. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2024, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/houthi-rebels-and-shipping/995980/27 "2024-01-12T22:35:27Z")
I would expect the little boats used to attack larger boats have to have a mother ship to launch from. Take out the mother ship and every single helicopter in Houthi territory. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2024, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/houthi-rebels-and-shipping/995980/28 "2024-01-13T02:08:21Z")
How about bombing the ports where the boats berth? [https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/12/politics/us-strikes-yemen-houthis/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/12/politics/us-strikes-yemen-houthis/index.html) > [@](#): > > The set of US-led strikes on Thursday evening targeted radar facilities and command and control nodes, as well as facilities used for the storage and launch of drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. These are the primary weapons the Houthis have used to target commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The attacks killed five people and wounded six more, according to a spokesman for the Houthi military. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2024, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/houthi-rebels-and-shipping/995980/29 "2024-01-13T22:44:10Z")
The response has to weigh the cost of the weapons against the value of the asset destroyed. Their small boats can be garaged anywhere in the country and the larger mother ship can anchor offshore. It looks like they went after missiles, launchers, weapons storage and radar facilities. Hopefully this puts a dent in their war machine. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2024, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/houthi-rebels-and-shipping/995980/30 "2024-01-14T05:51:07Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I would expect the little boats used to attack larger boats have to have a mother ship to launch from. Why on earth would you expect that? The Bab al-Mandab Strait is a whopping 30km across. I’m sure any speedboat attacks they’re doing are launched from the shore. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2024, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/houthi-rebels-and-shipping/995980/31 "2024-01-14T15:48:31Z")
In which case, I’d assume it would make sense for launching sites, repair facilities, ammo dumps, etc. to be as widely dispersed as possible in order to prevent any strikes from warships from taking out significant amounts of ordnance and materiel. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2024, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/houthi-rebels-and-shipping/995980/32 "2024-01-14T15:52:46Z")
I was watching a DW report last night (they post some good analysis pieces on YouTube, by the way) that said the Houthis spent many years dodging attacks by the Saudis and have become good at minimizing the impact of strikes. Their view was that these won’t do much, and on top of that the Houthis have embraced civilian deaths as part of their narrative that the West is out to get them. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2024, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/houthi-rebels-and-shipping/995980/33 "2024-01-14T19:43:14Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > A statement. What more do they have to do? Thoughts and Prayers? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2024, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/houthi-rebels-and-shipping/995980/34 "2024-01-15T00:15:31Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > Why on earth would you expect that? The Bab al-Mandab Strait is a whopping 30km across. I’m sure any speedboat attacks they’re doing are launched from the shore. Good point but it’s been a tactic of their Somali neighbors. You’re right that the straight narrows to 28 miles but that does not limit their area of attack. To the extent they are willing to take small boats any distance on open water dictates the use of a larger base ship which allows greater distances. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2024, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/houthi-rebels-and-shipping/995980/35 "2024-01-18T12:19:35Z")
Since this all started we’ve had Hezbollah messing around with Israel and that had people worried about an expansion into Lebanon and the involvement of an Iranian proxy Then we had the topic of this thread, the Houthis getting involved. Then yesterday we had Iran strike into Pakistan, which I thought was really odd since I thought their relations were reasonably normal. > **[Iran admits carrying out deadly strike on Pakistan territory](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-67999465)** > > Islamabad says the attack killed two children - it follows Iranian strikes on targets in Syria and Iraq. And now today we have Pakistan striking back. > **[Pakistan-Iran strikes: At least nine killed as Pakistan launches strike into...](https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-middle-east-68015978?src_origin=BBCS_BBC)** > > Pakistan's foreign ministry said its strikes had hit "terrorist hideouts" in Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan province. Since a discussion around the Houthis hasn’t exactly taken off, maybe we should make this a more general discussion about the dangers of this thing spiraling? Mods? I have to say, we really can’t claim a lot of success when it comes to direct US involvement in the ME, and I worry that we’ll be tempted once again to fix things. And if we do, you can be assured of a Trump victory, since one of the things his supporters bang on about is “no new wars” ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2024, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/houthi-rebels-and-shipping/995980/36 "2024-01-18T14:35:18Z")
> [@OldOlds](#): > > And if we do, you can be assured of a Trump victory, since one of the things his supporters bang on about is “no new wars” You are right that Trump’s victory is very likely, due to the Houthi problem. But for a different reason, I think. It won’t be because Trump will claim credit for no wars, it will be a much more practical problem: prices. Since most shipping companies are now avoiding the Houthi areas and taking the longer route, costs are higher , and prices will rise. American citizens may or may not care about international politics, but they have a bizarre obsession with the price of gas. If next November, the price of gas is 20 cents higher than it was two months earlier, Biden will lose the election. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2024, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/houthi-rebels-and-shipping/995980/37 "2024-02-13T16:15:04Z")
They’ve done it now! They will rue the day If we Brits can’t get our afternoon cuppa. > **One of the UK’s best known tea makers has revealed it is monitoring tea supplies on a daily basis as imports reach a “critical period”.** > > Tetley Tea, the country’s second biggest tea brand, said supplies were “much tighter” than it would like amid disruption in the Red Sea. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2024, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/houthi-rebels-and-shipping/995980/38 "2024-02-13T16:17:47Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > They’ve done it now! They will rue the day If we Brits can’t get our afternoon cuppa. Just make this with warm water. It will be fine. > **[Lipton Lemon Iced Tea Mix, 38 qt.](https://www.bjs.com/product/lipton-lemon-iced-tea-mix-38-qt/3000000000000140513?fulfillment=shipping&bjext=&lob=omni&chl=pdsch&dt=20220728&tcz=pmax&opz1=_17879974687 ___&utm_campaign=B0000SPN_Omni_Google_EVGRN_NONE_GROCERY_NONE_pmax_NONE_ACQ&utm_source=google&vnd=ggad&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=_&utm_IDs=GG_17879974687___ &&campaignID=17879974687&network=x&adcreative=&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAw6yuBhDrARIsACf94RUOuozG3h3L2c_ew8CH1SLO7jHWcl4yqbfUP0yx12whDhI49N71dZMaArBdEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds)** > > Shop Lipton Lemon Iced Tea Mix, 38 qt. from BJ's Wholesale Club and enjoy pure lemon flavor blended with the crisp taste of real tea. Order now for delivery or pickup. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2024, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/houthi-rebels-and-shipping/995980/39 "2024-02-13T16:18:37Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > They will rue the day If we Brits can’t get our afternoon cuppa. Why, are you gonna [invade again?](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aden_Colony) ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2024, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/houthi-rebels-and-shipping/995980/40 "2024-02-13T17:45:02Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Why, are you gonna [invade again?](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aden_Colony) Plus ça change: > On 18 January 1839, the [British East India Company](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_East_India_Company) [landed Royal Marines at Aden](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aden_Expedition). Their aims were to establish a supply port and stop attacks by Arab pirates against British shipping to India. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/houthi-rebels-and-shipping/995980.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/houthi-rebels-and-shipping/995980.md?page=3)