Republicans, they are the problem, they dont want to worm with us. Im over listening to jeffries. We need somebody that can get together with the people were going to leave this program at this point but you can watch it in its entirety on a website cspan. Org. Take you live to hearing with former cia, pentagon and state Department Officials testify on whos the threat to middle is to build and use interest. You are watching live coverage on cspan2. Through their many significant attacks on International Shipping in the red sea and gulf of aden since october 2023. We will discuss the threat posed by the houthis and the Biden Administrations response to the dramatic uptick in irans maligned activity across the region. I now ask consent unanimously the gem of North Carolina dr. Murthy be allowed to sit on the dais and participate call it all other members in todays hearing. Without objection, so ordered. I also ask consent that the statement for the record my and related report be entered into the record. Without objection, so ordered. I now recognize myself for an opening statement. Ann ladies and gentlemen, i am joe wilson, chairman of the middle East North Africa and central asia subcommittee of the Foreign Affairs committee and a grateful member of congress from south carolina. Since the fall of with houthi terrorist bilin pilot ovee internationally recognized government of yemen, the Hamas Houthis along with the iranian other puppets have made territorial gains and have expanded their capacity to carry out a mass murder directed by the regime in tehran. The illini machine terrorist puppets in yemen, the houthis have launched over 30 30 attn commercial and naval vessels in the red sea since november. Their capacity to field such attacks is a commentary on the Iranian Regimes direct support towards network of terrorist puppets and the growth in the region. The houthis and other puppeteers groups funded trained and survived by the regime in tehran a property with sophisticated weapons, including precision guided missiles and longrange drones. The houthis have conducted hundreds of attacks on our valued hours of partners in the region and a directly targeted u. S. Targets disrupting world shipping, fuel, fueling inflation for household products worldwide. And interrupting the delivery of grain around the world the countries that are in need. They receive material and Political Support from the worlds foremost state sponsor of terrorism and of coordinated with the least two Foreign Terrorist Organizations. The Islamic Revolution guard court and hezbollah. But were foolishly delisted as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the Biden Administration in federally 2021. Only to only to be redesignated as as a specially designated global of terror. Sadly, this is a very inadequate and does nothing to hold the regime in tehran accountable for the direct support of the houthi terrorist puppets. The houthis have prorated identical copies of iranian Ballistic Missiles with attack cruise missiles and antiship cruise missiles and suicide drones. Weve seen some of these projectiles launched at october 7 toward our ally in the region israel and formally they had attacked saudi arabia and united arab emirates. More recently at least 30 plus instances towards International Commercial shipping in the red sea spiking insurance premiums and costs for goods and vessels moving across a abadi of watey between 1015 of global trade passes daily. The houthis ability to disrupt shipping gives the regime and to run a significant boost and legitimacy and is a key to the goal of death to america, death to israel. Proxies of the regime in tehran have benefited from bidens hands of policy and have conveniently attached themselves to the claims of the palestinians. This is about guilty to Iranian Regime and its agenda. The Biden Administration and diplomatic pursuit of a Disastrous Nuclear Deal has completely ignored the mass proliferation to develop missiles and terrorism by the regime, arming its proxies and dictator allies. Every new regimes Missile Program is the cornerstone of its nuclear program. President trump was correct in canceling the deal which did nothing to address the in a communal ballistic Missile Program or proliferation of terrorism as he successively suy built deterrents to protect israel and america with indeed the ever have a court. This administration sadly has completely failed to respond to deter future attacks. Striking ammunition dapl in yemen after providing advance warning is not a sufficient deterrence. There is a sincere bipartisan outrage over the conditions of extreme poverty in yemen. Houthi terrorists have engaged massive a themselves and the loyalist by by the people yen continue suffering the consequences of the iran backed regime civil war. The people of yemen deserve better than constant civil war due to Iranian Regime backed terrorism. We also understand the interconnection of the dictators with rule of gun invading democracies with rule of law. We see this sadly as we respect the courageous people of ukraine, the courageous people of israel who are resisting the axis of evil, war criminal putin, the regime in tehran and its puppets, and the Chinese Communist party. This Administration Must reverse course and resort credible deterrence to avoid further attacks and the civilization. And i believe if they did it would be bipartisan. I want to again thank you for the witnesses being here today and your expertise and a look forward to hearing now from the Ranking Member gerry connolly, also know as past president of the nato parliamentary a silly. Mr. President. Thank you so much, mr. Chairman. Since november 19, the houthis and arena backed Militia Organization in yemen have attacked over 40 commercial ships of multiple u. S. Naval vessels in the red sea with no signs of stopping. Theyve attack commercial vessels indiscriminately, wreaking havoc on International Shipping of the Global Economy. Just in the last three months houthi threats to ships, cruie thinkers crossing the red sea have forced Major Shipping Companies to spend millions of dollars, more fuel, and add an additional ten days of traveling around the horn of africa that so far as cost 200 million. The costly delay will ultimately be felt most specific about many in the developing world will be seen rising prices due to inflation caused by putins wars in ukraine. The covid19 pandemic and other disruptions in the Global Supply chain. Its important that the subcommittee articulate that theres absolute clarity on a bipartisan basis when it comes to houthi targeting of American Service members or Court American interest. Arbitrary houthi attacks on commercial shipping have already disrupted a key pillar of the International Order and has an impact on all nations the freedom of navigation. At its core freedom of navigation and titles all countries, vessels to transit around the world in peace, free from it. Protection and promotion of this longstanding International Principal warrants and international response. Not to mention how houthi attacks Impact Global economy. The Biden Administration has drafted a response to defend u. S. Interests and deter further aggression while preventing regional escalation, which i believe we must be very mindful of. Its a strategy that some of my friends on the other side of the aisle including you, mr. Chairman, have criticized. A a successful strategy is one that utilizes all the tools in our toolbox diplomatic, economic, and if needed and as a last resort, military action. Some of my colleagues would like to see an administration that acts unilaterally to impose great calls on iran and its proxies. Committing american blood and treasure to another endless war in the middle east, all while neglecting the devastating dominican situation in yemen. Lets be clear. Calls for direct strikes on iran are dangerous and under ue ministrations efforts to prevent and expand a conflict. A restart to civil war in yemen will not achieve american objectives. In the Biden Administration rightly sought to prevent widescale famine for human civilians while degrading houthi military capabilities and defending u. S. Servicemen and facilities in the region. Such a strategy is critical for the millions of yemenis who remain dependent on outside humanitarian aid. For even the most basic necessities. According to the united nations, 18. 2 Million People in yemen, more than half of its population, depend on such humanitarian assistance. 4. 5 million yemenis are considered internally displaced, and 17. 6 million are food insecure. Years of bombing, ground combat, destruction and impoverishment from the brutal war that had preceded this set of events forced millions of yemenis civilians to suffer persistent food scarcity, resulting in near famine conditions and widespread malnutrition especially among children. Recurring disease, medical goods shortages, and extreme economic hardship. The rupture of the tenuous ceasefire brokered in yemen would mean another hot conflict in a region that can ill afford it here since before the houthi started attacking commercial shipping in november, the Biden Administration clearly stated it is not interested in a broader conflict in the region. The administration has made clear that the United States will not hesitate, however, to protect our personnel both to action at the u. N. And direct military strikes. And it is followed through on that commitment. The United States support Security Council resolution condemning the houthi attacks and urging against regional escalation in the days leading up to the military action, making the case to the International Community on the need to hold the houthis accountable for their action. Administration also impose additional powerful sanctions on the houthis by designating the group as a specially designated global terrorist group. This powerful measure sanctions the facilities, facilitation and support networks coordinated by iran, which helped keep the houthi militants armed and equipped. The Biden Administration also withstood over 55 separate iran sanction rollouts targeting more than 550 individuals and entities, and just this week doj announced the indictments of irgc leadership in iran, and others, partners sanction of evasion, fraud, and moneylaundering offenses with the trafficking and selling of iranian oil sanctions. As well as the seizure of one of 500,000 barrels of sanction oil. By all accounts the administrations pressure on iran is working. Just last week the riau hit an alltime low and the inflation rate is not at 46. 7 real. A record high in iran since you impose meaningful sanctions in 1996. Militarily the United States has moved in concert with partners and allies to expand interdiction operations to prevent illegal iranian weapons from reaching the houthis in yemen and is established current 22 nation secure operation to protect maritime vessels from houthi attacks and the red sea. Its not just an issue that impacts the United States but the entire International Community. With the leadership of our country and the Biden Administration, we have put together a Broad Coalition partners to defend shared interests in the region to secure the freedom of navigation and open sea lanes of communication. I look forward to hearing from our distinguished panel, and will very much, i appreciate a lively conversation. Thank you, and i yield back. Thank you very much, missed call it. As an indication of how important this here is where very grateful to welcome the chairman of the Foreign Affairs committee and we now recognize the chairman Michael Mccaul from texas for his opening statement. Thank you, mr. Chairman, and Ranking Member connolly. Since hamas brutal october 7 attack on israel, irans proxies throughout the middle east have launched assault after assault on the United States and our partners. The houthis in yemen have launched dozens of attacks against International Shipping in the red sea and gulf of aden. These ongoing iran backed attacks threaten a wide array of international interests. They are driving up shipping costs, increasing insurance rates, and disrupting Global Supply chains. The houthis latest escalation is a a symptom of the International Communities failure to address the houthi threat. For years the houthis have benefited from support provided by iran, and hezbollah, which transform this group of ragtag guerrillas into a fighting force with the capacity to destabilize the entire region and disrupt global trade. But the world has consistently downplayed this threat and irans role in enabling them. The Biden Administrations policies have emboldened the houthis at the expense of our regional partners. And by projecting weakness on the world stage, this administration has invited aggression. While iran was smuggling weapons to the houthis, this administration was busy lifting terror designations and cutting off of support to saudi arabia and amid houthi crossborder fire. Appeasement has no place in u. S. Foreign policy, but that is exactly what has occurred in yemen and beyond. Even now this administration continues to treat the houthis with kid gloves. They are promoting a a u. N. Pe deal that would legitimize the houthis violet autocratic rule over millions of innocent yemenis, and secure irans foothold in yemen. And despite we designating the houthis as a specially designated global terrorist organization, President Biden has refused to use the strongest tool at his disposal, and that is the Foreign Terrorist Organization designation that they had prior to this administration. I think its time to recognize them for who they are and we designate them as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. There can be no denying that the houthis are terrorists and present a real threat. As attached by the attacks by the houthis continue, action is clearly needed to deter them and defend u. S. National interest. I look forward to this hearing and hear how we can work with our allies and partners to protect our servicemembers and the Global Economy as well as steps to promote stability in the region. For nobody wants war. Nobody wants an escalation. Nobody wants war with iran. But history teaches us that if we do not act in strength, that rather weakness, we will invite aggression, conflict, and war. Its as old as Neville Chamberlain and hitler. Churchill talked about appeasement. Reagan talked about peace through strength. If we do not project strength, we will get conflict and war. 160 attacks on our soldiers in iraq and syria, and then tower 22 in jordan with little response. It only begets more violence. Deterrence is necessary to promote peace in the region and try to want to thank you for holding this very important hearing. And with that i yield back. Thank you very much, chairman Michael Mccaul. We are pleased to have distinguished witnesses with us today. Ms. Simone ledeen, former Deputy Assistant secretary at the fence for the middle east. We are grateful to a also dr. Kenneth pollack, former cia analyst and in the sea national Security Council director for the persian gulf. Finally, we have dr. Jon alterman, Senior Vice President , director of the middle east program at the center for strategic and international studies. We want to thank you all for being here today. Your full status will be made part of the record and ill ask each of you to keep your spoken remarks to five minutes in order to allow time for member questions. I now recognize secretary ledeen for opening statement. Chairman mccaul, chairman wilson, Ranking Member connolly, the establishment of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify today. My name is Simone Ledeen and i predecease her as