As the Gaza offensive rages, the Houthi movement in Yemen has joined operations against Israeli forces and its allies.
According to Sputnik (Russia), the Houthi’s latest move is to threaten to dispatch ground forces to Gaza to deal with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and militant groups in Palestine such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Palestine and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade.
Regional experts have commented on the feasibility of the Houthi scenario of sending troops to the Gaza Strip and US intervention.
The US has supported Israel, deploying an international task force to break Yemen’s blockade in the Red Sea against Israeli ships, in the context of a prolonged conflict in Gaza and the risk of escalating into a regional war. area.
Political and security analyst Hasan Selim Ozertem in Ankara said that if the Houthis send troops to Gaza, although that scenario is unlikely, it also means that the conflict will spread further throughout the Middle East. . This could further weaken regional security and fail to prevent conflict within Gaza’s borders. The conflict will spread to Syria as well as the Red Sea areas.
“Regarding the Houthi deployment of troops to Gaza, I think it is impossible to do considering the geopolitical dynamics. They need to mobilize and send forces across the Red Sea or Saudi Arabia. This is impossible in the current circumstances,” Mr. Hasan emphasized.
Amphibious assault ships USS Bataan and USS Carter Hall in the Red Sea. Photo: US Navy/AP
Instead of sending troops to Gaza, this expert believes that the Houthis could deploy some activities to sabotage security, as they have done in the past few weeks – attacking two oil tankers arriving in the area. Therefore, Mr. Hasan said that forces allied with the Houthi forces in Yemen are getting more deeply involved in the region to control conflicts, as well as ensure security for traffic flows from the Red Sea through the canal. Suez.
Mr. Lorenzo Trombetta, a Middle East scholar and analyst in Beirut, said that the Houthis’ threat to send troops to Gaza is just a rhetorical argument to show strength, and is not a real threat.
“Israel is of course not prepared to face such a scenario, but I emphasize that this scenario is not realistic,” he said.
Mr. Mehmet Rakipoglu – international affairs researcher at the London-based research organization Dimensions for Strategic Studies – said Israel was under pressure in Gaza, so if Houthi forces suddenly appeared, it would that could be decisive.
“If the Houthis carry out this plan, of course it will change the face of the confrontation in Gaza, because Israel will have to deal with the Houthi movement as well. So the focus will not only be on the Houthis in Gaza, but also on Hamas, Islamic Jihad and any other resistance movements,” he said, firmly asserting that Israel is not ready for this scenario. .
According to Mr. Rakipoglu, if this scenario occurs, it is likely that Israel will face more challenging threats. The Houthis have targeted ships carrying anything from or to Israel. So the message is clear. He explained that the Houthis have intervened in the most concrete way in the war in Gaza, noting that their threat to deploy troops to Gaza is “a move to challenge the narrative accepted by the US or Israel.” .
“Most likely, the US will take action against the Houthis, although they cannot send troops to Gaza. I am sure that Washington is planning against the Houthis,” he said.
Houthi forces in Sanaa, Yemen. Photo: AP
In addition, Mr. Ozertem noted that the Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA) region also has its own instabilities unrelated to US involvement. That will cause instability in the war in Gaza to continue to escalate.
“This scenario can be avoided, because continued conflict will weaken stability in the region and pave the way for the participation of other actors. This is something that has happened before, not something that has never been seen before,” he said.
Scholar Trombetta said the US is by no means the only Western country interested in events in the Red Sea.
“Of course, the US will also share its level of responsibility, but it is not the only party responsible for this situation. The US and UK, along with Israel, intend to restore the status quo of the Red Sea before October 7. On this issue, they are enthusiastically supported by most Western powers,” Mr. Trombetta said.
He noted that Russia has similar concerns in ensuring the security of these sea routes, but unlike the US, Moscow has a different approach to compromise with relevant powers, such as Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Arabia and Iran.
Researcher Rakipoglu believes that the US should be responsible for the current conflict escalation, because it is the only member of the United Nations Security Council to veto the document calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, support Israel without any humanitarian concerns.