(NewsNation) — The U.S. and United Kingdom conducted a second wave of assaults in the Middle East, hitting 36 Houthi targets in Yemen, meant to deter further escalation against U.S. interests in the region.
"The Red Sea is about the size of California but it also has anywhere between 10 to 15% of global commerce and shipping passing through the Gulf of Aden, and then into the Red Sea," said retired Lt. Gen. Richard Newton. "So this is not only U.S. national security interests, but global economic interests as well."
Newton, NewsNation's senior national security contributor, joined "Morning in America" to discuss how the string of attacks by the U.S. and U.K. coalition will affect the conflict in the region, saying the Houthis have not yet been deterred.
"This is just another element of Iranian-backed efforts to thwart the United States, but now thwart the global economy. So this is a very tough position we're in candidly," Newton said, adding, "I've never seen the Middle East in more of a disruptive or crisis-based environment."
The strikes on Saturday against the Houthis were launched by U.S. warships and American and British fighter jets. The strikes followed an air assault in Iraq and Syria on Friday that targeted other Iranian-backed militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in retaliation for the drone strike that killed three U.S. troops in Jordan last weekend.
The Houthis have been conducting almost daily missile or drone attacks against commercial and military ships transiting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and they have made clear that they have no intention of scaling back their campaign despite pressure from the American and British campaign.
Newton tells NewsNation that Americans should be prepared for extended conflict in the region.
"This is not just a one-and-done, this will be a long stretch, in terms of not necessarily days, perhaps weeks, but also months," Newton said.