The Middle East Institute published on 23 July 2024 a commentary titled "The Situation in the Red Sea Is Not Getting Better" by Joseph L. Votel, Commander of U.S. Central Command from 2016-2019.
Houthi drone and missile attacks on international commerce in the Red Sea have significantly reduced the volume and increased the costs of shipping. Efforts by the United States and its allies to end the Houthi attacks have not succeeded. General Votel calls on the U.S. to take more aggressive steps "to blunt, disrupt, and destroy Houthi military capabilities."
