On Wednesday's broadcast of CNN's “The Situation Room,” Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, said, “There are probably more aggressive actions against the Houthis. “I hope the government will send a statement.” It sends a very clear message that the world will not tolerate the escalation of this war, especially one that undermines freedom of navigation. ”
Himes said, “The Biden administration has been very cautious in this regard, and so far, it has been able to treat the tragedy, which is a tragedy but is largely confined to Gaza and Israel and the northern border with Israel, as a catastrophe.'' “I understand that we have succeeded in preventing this from happening.” A regional conflagration involving many nation-states. What I would suggest is that the Biden administration is not necessarily seeking my opinion, but the guiding principle here is that no one escalates. As a result, if I were sitting in that Oval Office, I probably would have taken more aggressive actions against the Houthis. Now, of course, the U.S. Navy attacked ships and sank three ships, but I think we need to be clear that attacks on freedom of navigation in the Red Sea are an escalation and are unacceptable. And if the Houthis want to find their own way, we will obviously prevent this, but if they want to jump into a direct conflict with Israel, that will be their decision. . But they cannot engage the vital strategic interests of the United States and the world. So, again, my hope is that the Biden administration, perhaps by removing the launch sites, sends a very clear message that the world will not tolerate an escalation of this war, especially one that undermines freedom of navigation. It is to send. ”
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