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Global Affairs

Houthi Escalation in the Red Sea: Attacks on U.S. and Israeli Targets Ahead of U.S.-Iran Talks

Michael Frick

Michael Frick

— 4 min read
Houthi Escalation in the Red Sea: Attacks on U.S. and Israeli Targets Ahead of U.S.-Iran Talks
U.S. Department of Defense Current Photos, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Introduction

On April 9, 2025, Iran-backed Houthi forces launched drone strikes against the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea and an Israeli military site in Tel Aviv, marking a significant escalation in regional tensions. These attacks, framed as solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, occurred days before scheduled U.S.-Iran nuclear talks in Oman. The Houthis’ defiance underscores their growing role as a proxy in Iran’s “Axis of Resistance” and tests the Biden administration’s strategy to balance military deterrence with diplomacy. This report examines the tactical details, strategic motivations, and geopolitical implications of the attacks amid a broader U.S.-Iran showdown.

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Trump Administration’s $425 Billion Funding Freeze: An Assault on Congressional Spending Authority

Trump Administration’s $425 Billion Funding Freeze: An Assault on Congressional Spending Authority

Introduction Congressional Democrats have unveiled an updated report documenting the Trump administration’s unprecedented withholding of $425 billion in federal funds legally appropriated by Congress. The blocked funding spans critical programs—from disaster relief and cancer research to small-business grants and public health initiatives—igniting a constitutional clash over the

lock-1 By Michael Frick