Chairman McCaul Issues Statement Calling for Action in Response to Ongoing Houthi Attacks

Washington, D.C. – Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul issued the following statement in response to the Houthis’ ongoing attacks against U.S. interests in the Red Sea region, even after the United States and international partners threatened consequences for more attacks in a statement issued on January 3.

“The Iran-backed Houthis’ ongoing missile and drone attacks on international shipping, including direct attacks on U.S. sailors, are a growing threat to the United States Navy, innocent mariners, and the free flow of commerce.

“In addition to terrorizing Yemen and the Arabian Peninsula, the Houthis are a longstanding and significant external threat because of the support they have received from Iran and Hezbollah. Weakness invites aggression; the Houthis are not backing down in response to multiple strongly worded statements by the Biden administration and others. I urge the Biden administration to take real action to protect U.S. sailors and American interests in the Middle East. In addition, the administration’s decision to rescind the Houthis’ Foreign Terrorist Organization designation in 2021 was clearly a mistake and they must re-list the Houthis now.”

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