"Malign and reckless behavior": CENTCOM issues particularly sharp statement on Houthi shipping attacks

US Central Command issued a particularly harsh statement today (Thursday) regarding the actions of Iranian-backed Houthi rebels against international shipping in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean.

While Central Command statements usually include laconic descriptions of Houthi attacks and US Army efforts to thwart them, today's message included a harsh reprimand of the Houthi actions as "continued malign and reckless behavior" which threatens regional stability and endangers the lives of mariners across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden."

Also unusual for these statements was Central Command's mission of Iranian support for the Houthis. In most statements, they are merely referred to as Houthis, but this time they were referred to as "Iranian-backed Houthis."