The United States and its allies will likely adopt a restrained strategy to end Houthi attacks on commercial ships on the Red Sea while avoiding a prolonged military intervention. But even this approach would risk escalations that could collapse Saudi-Houthi cease-fire talks in Yemen, and prompt Iran to broaden its maritime attacks in the region. On Jan. 3, in a joint statement with 13 countries, the United States warned Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement to halt attacks on Red Sea shipping and release detained crews and ships. The official statement said that the Houthis would ''bear the responsibility of the consequence,'' though a White House official, speaking to the Associated Press, was more explicit, saying that the Houthis should ''not anticipate another warning'' from the United States. Also on Jan. 3, White House officials met to discuss military options in Yemen. U.S. President Joe Biden reportedly did not approve military strikes...
