Israel has been demanding in meetings with Biden administration officials that it be allowed freedom of action in the Red Sea against Houthi attacks
A senior official told Israel Hayom on Wednesday that "Israel is not part of the coalition led by the United States against Houthi aggression in the Red Sea, but Israel maintains its freedom of action in coordination with the coalition leaders."
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In meetings held between US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and his counterparts in Israel and between US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and the War Cabinet ministers, the message that was communicated was that Israel supported the international coalition but would not be subordinate to its members should it feel compelled to retaliate to attacks against it. Such freedom of action would be required, among other things, if the launches towards the city of Eilat continued.
Video: Israeli hostages being handed over by Hamas on November 28, 2023 / Credit: Social media
A middle ground eventually emerged under which Israel would indeed maintain freedom of action, but would still be required to operate in coordination with the United States. The aggression of the Houthis has so far led to US interceptions of their launches, but it has not gone on the offensive despite the knowledge that Iran is behind the attacks.
This week, with the establishment of the coalition that will sail in the Red Sea to ensure freedom of navigation, there were additional attacks to which the new force has yet to respond. The establishment of the coalition is an Israeli achievement, since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had instructed the head of the National Security Council, Tzachi Hanegbi to turn the Houthi provocations into an international problem that would allow Israel to focus on its backyard in Gaza.
In his visit to Israel at the beginning of the week, Austin announced the establishment of a new defense coalition to protect shipping lanes in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, which includes the United States, Britain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Bahrain and the Seychelles. Despite the significant damage to its revenues due to the diversion of shipping of many commercial tankers, Egypt chose not to be part of the coalition.
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