Hamas & Hezbollah have been decapitated but WORSE terror threat is ready to unleash hell – we must act, warns ex-colonel
IRAN’S Houthi rebels are actually a “major” threat after the “decapitation” of Hezbollah and Hamas, a former Brit colonel has warned.
Yemen’s Houthis are “largely undamaged” by Israel’s seven-entrance conflict – and nonetheless have “significant capability”, Colonel Richard Kemp, 65, instructed The Solar.
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Houthi fighters have been concentrating on ships within the Pink Sea and Gulf of Aden since October 7 final yrCredit score: Getty
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Houthi conflict drills in Sana’a, Yemen in March this yr – simulating an assault on an Israeli settlement supported by US and UK forcesCredit score: Getty
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The Houthis launched pictures of extra navy drills in northern Yemen in OctoberCredit score: EPA
Hamas’ October 7 assault has sparked greater than a yr of bloodshed as Israel battles to wipe out Iran’s terror proxies.
Whereas Israel has ruthlessly eradicated Hezbollah’s chain of command and assassinated Hamas terror boss Yahya Sinwar, Yemen’s Houthis now “have to be dealt with”, Colonel Kemp stated.
He stated: “The Houthis are largely undamaged so far. We need to look out for a potentially greater terrorist threat than we’re seeing from them now.”
As Israel has continued its conflict towards Hamas in Gaza, Houthi rebels have sought to assist their Iranian proxy pal by terrorising ships within the Pink Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Simply this month, the Iran-backed militia launched an explosive-laden drone boat at a British oil tanker.
The Houthis have threatened to “escalate military operations” because the battle between Israel and Lebanon threatens to explode into all-out conflict.
Colonel Kemp, who led British forces in Afghanistan, stated: “The Houthis have significant capability.
“I feel it ought to be a better precedence for Western nations to attempt to cope with the Houthis.
“They there have been strikes against them, but they’ve been largely token.
“I feel the time most likely will come quickly the place they have to be handled – far more strongly.”
Hijacked Brit ship Galaxy Leader REAPPEARS as Houthis force crew to party on live TV 11 months after kidnapping
The “sophistication” of the Houthis’ year-long blitz has been “made doable by Iranian arming, funding and sponsorship”, Colonel Kemp said.
They have been “notably efficient” due to the “havoc” caused to international shipping in the Red Sea.
Last November, the $50million British-Israeli Galaxy Leader cargo ship was hijacked by Houthi pirates.
Its entire international crew were taken hostage in a “revenge” transfer for Israel’s conflict in Gaza.
Who’re the Houthis?
The Houthi rebels have spent months terrorising the Red Sea by launching persistent missile and drone attacks on vessels and warships – but who are they?
The Shia militant group who now controls large swaths of Yemen spent over a decade being largely ignored by the world.
However, since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, they sprung from relative obscurity to holding roughly £1trillion of world trade hostage – turning one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes into an active warzone.
Their warped battle cry is “Death to America, Death to Israel, curse the Jews and victory to Islam”.
Why are they attacking ships?
In October last year, the rebel group began launching relentless drone and missile attacks on any ships – including warships – deemed to be connected with Israel in solidarity with their ally Hamas.
In reality, they targeted commercial vessels with little or no link to Israel – forcing global sea traffic to largely halt operations in the region and sending shipping prices around the world soaring.
The sea assaults added to the carnage in the Middle East tinderbox as intense ripples from Israel’s war in Gaza were felt across the region – with Iran accused of stoking the chaos.
The Houthi chiefs pledged their Red Sea attacks would continue until Israel stopped its offensive in Gaza.
The group’s chiefs have previously said their main targets are Israel, and its allies the US and Britain.
And despite repeated threats from the West and joint US and UK strikes blitzing their strongholds in Yemen – Iran’s terror proxy appears undeterred.
Nearly a year later, the Houthis still have control of the car carrier and have been using the ship as a trophy to taunt the West.
And Vladimir Putin is reportedly now helping the Houthis blitz British and US ships – bringing Russia and the West on a collision course.
Colonel Kemp warned wiping out the Iran-backed terror army would not be an “simple job”.
The Houthis are largely undamaged so far. We need to look out for a potentially greater terrorist threat than we’re seeing from them now
Colonel Richard Kemp
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have both tried to deal with the threat from the Houthis for many years – but “did not get very far with it”, he added.
“The Houthis are a really efficient organisation,” Colonel Kemp said.
“Additionally they use lengthy-vary ballistic missiles and drones.
“Early on in the campaign, the first-ever war in space took place when the Houthis fired a ballistic missile.
“Its trajectory went exterior the Earth’s environment and was intercepted by an Israeli Arrow 3 missile, exterior the Earth’s environment.
“It was the first ever example of conflict in space that we’ve seen in history.
“This simply reveals you the extent of sophistication all made doable by Iranian arming, funding and sponsorship.”
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Oil tanker Cordelia Moon bursts into flames after being hit by a missile in the Red Sea as the Houthis target shippingCredit score: Reuters
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Houthi supporters chant during a protest against the US and IsraelCredit score: EPA
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A Houthi fighter taking part in a military drill in northern Yemen in OctoberCredit: EPA
Although Iran has “far better management” of Hezbollah, it still has control of the Houthis in terms of funding and weapons, Colonel Kemp said.
And the rebels have had less of a focus for Israel and the West over the last year.
Colonel Kemp said: “I feel it is an space we want to look out for sooner or later, a doubtlessly better terrorist threat than we’re seeing from them now.
We could be certain of 1 factor – these terrorist organisations are going to proceed to be a threat, not simply within the Center East, but additionally all over the world
Colonel Richard Kemp
“There’s a range of options for Iran to consider as it tries to figure out how to undo the damage that’s already been done.”
One choice is for Iran to “latch” onto one other terror group – similar to Al-Qaeda and ISIS – “to give them greater capability”, Colonel Kemp stated.
“We can be sure of one thing – these terrorist organisations are going to continue to be a threat, not just in the Middle East, but also around the world,” he warned.
Hezbollah names new chief
Final week, Hezbollah named its new boss as Naim Qassem – an ageing terrorist who gave a chilling speech this month vowing to struggle on.
Qassem, the previous deputy chief, is changing Hassan Nasrallah – who was killed by Israel final month in large airstrikes on Beirut.
His accession to the highest of Hezbollah will make him the chief goal for Israeli assassins, who have already killed dozens of terror chiefs in Lebanon and Gaza.
He takes the reins as Hezbollah defends towards an Israeli invasion within the south of Lebanon.
When Qassem was appointed, Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gollant stated: “The appointment is temporary. The countdown has begun.”
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Houthi fighters march throughout a rally of help for the Palestinians within the Gaza StripCredit score: AP
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Yemen’s Houthi forces carried out a navy train on mock US and Israeli positionsCredit score: EPA
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The second Houthi pirates hijacked the Galaxy Chief cargo ship within the Pink SeaCredit score: Reuters
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Houthi fighters throughout conflict drills in YemenCredit score: EPA
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A Houthi tank participating in a navy train in northern Yemen in OctoberCredit score: EPA