Marco Rubio: Houthi bombing was always a freedom of navigation issue

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said today (Tuesday) that the American bombing campaign against the Houthis was always about securing freedom of navigation, and that their reported "capitulation" to the US means the bombing can be stopped.

According to Rubio, "this was always a freedom of navigation issue. These are a band of individuals with advanced weaponry that were threatening global shipping, and the job was to get that to stop — and, if it's going to stop, then we can stop."

The Houthi blockade of international shipping from Asia to Europe via the Red Sea began shortly after October 7, with their missile attacks on any ship even remotely affiliated with Israel leading to almost all ships rerouting around the longer and more expensive route around the African continent.

The Biden administration tried to form a naval alliance to protect shipping, but it was unsuccessful in bringing back shipping. Adopting a mostly defensive posture, it began bombing selected targets after days of warning.

The Trump administration took a much more aggressive approach, which they claim has led to Houthi "capitulation."