Trump national security advisor: Houthi rebel group 'terrorizing' world shipping

Former Trump deputy national security adviser Victoria Coates on Wednesday said the Yemen-based Houthi rebel group is terrorizing world shipping.

"You have the Houthis not just targeting Israeli vessels," Coates said on the "Just the News, No Noise" TV show. "They're targeting Norwegian vessels and Liberian vessels. They've been taking shots at American naval vessels. So this is kind of indiscriminate. They are literally terrorizing world shipping."

In the past few weeks, the Iran-backed revel group has launched attacks on multiple commercial ships in the Red Sea, according to CNN.

These attacks have escalated amid the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7. 

"The main reason is Iran," Coates said. "Iran is backing both Hamas and the Houthis. They're trying to use the Houthis as a sort of second front to make the lives of the Israelis and the Americans difficult."

She added that saw little prospect for diplomatic rapprochement with Tehran under current American leadership.

"It's very hard to see how under current leadership, Iran could be seen as a constructive partner for anything," she said. "Quite frankly, they are tying themselves closer and closer to Russia and China."