Given that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned this week the Houthis that they would pay a heavy price, a reporter asked the Pentagon if it assesses that Israel might target the Yemen-based group next, after Hezbollah and Hamas.
“I won’t speak for Israel in terms of its operations. They certainly have a right to defend themselves, and as you know, the Houthis have launched missiles and drones toward Israel,” Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the U.S. Defense Department press secretary, told a reporter at the Pentagon’s Dec. 19 press briefing.
“The Houthis should not be surprised if Israel exercises its inherent right of self-defense,” Ryder said. “But as for any potential future operations, I’d refer you to Israel.”
A reporter asked if the Biden administration believes that Israel’s attacks on Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon “might put the agreement at risk.”
Ryder said that Washington continues to assess that the ceasefire agreement holds.
“We believe in everyone’s interest to ensure that that ceasefire continues,” he said. “We’ll continue to consult closely with partners in the region to include Israel and Lebanon toward that end.”