US military establishes joint Saudi command as Houthis gain ground

MIKE: RIGHT NOW PRESIDENT TRUMP. IS CONTINUING TO EYE THE. MIDTERMS AS WHEN THE WAR WITH. IRAN COULD END. HIS COMMENTS COME AS VIOLENCE. RISES NEAR THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ. AND ALSO AS HOUTHI REBELS CLAIM. TERRITORY IN YEMEN NEAR ANOTHER. VITAL STRAIT. CONGRESSMAN RICK CRAWFORD ON THE. WAR AND ITS TIMELINE. >> WELL, WE'RE EIGHT WEEKS OUT. I'M NOT SEEING ANY SIGNS OF THEM. SLOWING DOWN. IN FACT, I WOULD POINT TO THE.

FACT THAT THEY HAVE ESSENTIALLY. OPENED UP A SECOND FRONT BY NOW. ENGAGING WITH THE9 HOUTHIS NOT. JUST MATERIALLY OR FINANCIALLY, BUT PHYSICALLY PLACING IRGC ON. THE GROUND WHICH WOULD IMPLY, TO. ME, THAT THERE IS SOME COMMAND. AND CONTROL THERE. THIS IS A WHOLE NEW DYNAMIC IN. THIS ENGAGEMENT. MIKE: WE HAVE FOX TEAM COVERAGE. CHIEF FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT TREY. YINGST IS ABOARD THE USS GEORGE. WASHINGTON. FIRST, TO CHIEF INTERNATIONAL. CORRESPONDENT STEVE HARRIGAN. REPORTING LIVE FROM TEL AVIV. HELLO, STEVEMENT -- STEVE.

>> Reporter: MIKE, THE HOUTHIS. ARE ON THE MOVE. THESE ARE RAIN IRANIAN-. RAIN-JANUARY BACKED FIGHTERS. THAT ARE ATTACKING SAUDI ARABIA. THEY'RE USING MISSILES TO DO SO. AS WELL AS DRONES. THE REAL CONCERN IS ABOUT. TERRITORY THAT THESE. IRANIAN-BACKED FIGHTERS ARE. GAINING IN THE AREA. THEY'VE TAKEN A KEY CITY, AND. THEY ARE TRYING TO CONTROL A. CRITICAL RED SEA PORT, THE ABORT. OF BAB EL-MANDEB. THIS PORT CONTROLS ABOUT 12% OF.

THE WORLD'S OIL FLOW, SO IF THEY. GET THAT, IT COULD PRODUCE A. MAJOR BOTTLENECK FOR WORLD OIL. IRANIAN OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO. STRESS THAT THEY HAVE NOTHING TO. DO WITH THIS ADVANCE BY HOUTHI. FIGHTERS. [SPEAKING IN NATIVE TONGUE]. >> TRANSLATOR: WE ARE NOT AT WAR. WITH SAUDI ARABIA, AND THE. HOUTHIS HAVE THEIR OWN PROBLEMS. >> Reporter: IRANIAN OFFICIALS. ALSO SAY ONE OF THEIR OWN. COMMERCIAL SHIPS WAS STRUCK IN. THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ, AT LEAST. ONE PERSON KILLED IN THAT. STRIKE, THREE MORE WOUNDED AS. THE U.S. BLOCKADE OF ALL IRANIAN.

PORTS COPS. MIKE, BACK TO YOU. -- CONTINUES. MIKE: STEVE HARRIGAN LIVE IN TEL. AVIV. STEVE, MANY THANKS. , FOX NEWS IS NOW GETTING AN. INSIDE LOOK AT THE USS GEORGE. WASHINGTON AIRCRAFT CARRIER. WHERE MORE THAN 5,000 SAILORS. ARE NOW OPERATING OVERSEAS.. TREY YINGST IS ABOARD THE. WARSHIP. TREY, GOOD AFTERNOON TO YOU. >> Reporter: YEAH, MIKE, GOOD. AFTERNOON. TENSION IS RAPIDLY RISING ACROSS. THE REGION AMID NEW THREATS FROM. IRAN AND ITS PROXIES.

IT'S NOT JUST IN SAUDI ARABIA. WHERE THEY HAD TO SHUT DOWN THE. EAST TO WEST CRUDE OIL PIPELINE, BUT ALSO IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ. WHERE OVERNIGHT YET ANOTHER. VESSEL WAS TARGETED BY THE IRGC. WITH AN UNKNOWN PROJECTILE. HERE AT SEA IT'S THE UNITED. STATES THAT CONTROLS THE SKIES. TAKE A LOOK. IT'S THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. ABOARD THE USS GEORGE. WASHINGTON. AS THE NOISY FLIGHT DECK IS. PREPARING TO LAUNCH FIGHTER JETS. INTO THE DARK ABYSS. THE EXPLOSION OF ENERGY SHAKES. THE FLOATING GROUND AS AN FA-18.

SUPERHORNET SOARS INTO THE SKY. IS. THIS IS HOW THE UNITED STATES --. [INAUDIBLE]. POWER IN THE ARABIAN SEA. THE MIDDLE OF CENTCOM'S AREA OF. OPERATIONS. THE UNITED STATES IS CONDUCTING. THESE NIGHTTIME OPERATIONS. ABOARD THE GEORGE WASHINGTON, A. LABYRINTH OF METAL HALLWAYS. SNAKES THROUGH THE SHIP. THE SIZE OF THE VESSEL IS. DIFFICULT TO COMPREHEND. NAVY DESCRIBES THE AIRCRAFT. CARRIER AS FOUR AND A HALF.

SOVEREIGN ACRES OF U.S. TERRITORY. THE FLIGHT DECK ALONE IS MORE. THAN THREE FOOTBALL FIELDS LONG. THE SHEER SIZE MAKING IT A PRIME. TARGET FOR THE IRGC THAT. ATTEMPTED TO HIT THE SHIP WITH A. MISSILE LAST WEEKEND. THE CAPTAIN SAYS THE FLOATING. CITY IS READY FOR WHATEVER. THREATS COME ITS WAY. >> SO THE GEORGE WASHINGTON AND. MY JOB AS THE CO OF THIS SHIPP. IS TO INSURE WE ARE A READY AND. CAPABLE PRESENCE TO SUPPORT U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND, TO INSURE. STABILITY AND SECURITY IN THIS.

REGION. >> Reporter: IT'S BLUE, FROTHY. WATER FOR AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN. SEE, BUT IRAN IS PREPARING FOR. THE NEXT BATTLE. UNDERSTANDING THAT REALITY, THE. GW IS SURROUNDED BY FOUR OR FIVE. GUIDED MISSILE DESTROYERS AT ANY. MOMENT INCLUDING THE S -- USS. SUPERTHAT IS PACKED WITH. TOMAHAWK MISSILES AND AIR. DEFENSE SYSTEMS. >> THE CREW IS READY TO RESPOND. AS QUICKLY AS NECESSARY. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY. PROVIDE DEFENSE FOR THE STRIKE. GROUP AND STAND READY TO.

CONTINUE TO DO SO. >> Reporter: REPORTS INDICATE. THAT YET ANOTHER IRANIAN. COMMERCIAL VESSEL WAS TARGETED. NEAR THE COAST OF THE COUNTRY. EARLIER TODAY. IRANIAN STATE MEDIA SAYS THE. UNITED STATES IS RESPONSIBLE. MIKE? MIKE: TREY YINGST ABOARD THE USS. GEORGE WASHINGTON, SAFE TRAVELS. TO YOU, YOUR CREW AND, OF. COURSE, OUR SAILORS, TREY. THANKS. IN JUST A FEW MINUTES, THE. PRESIDENT WILL PRESENT THE. TROPHY AT IF THE -- AT THE IRISH.

OPEN, LET'S BRING IN OUR PANEL, REBECCAH HEINRICHS, A HUDSON. INSTITUTE SENIOR FELELLOW. WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU. REBECCAH, WHERE ARE WE BIG. PICTURE IN THIS CONFLICT WITH. IRAN? >> GREAT REPORTING BY TREY. BECAUSE HE REALLY HELPS US TO. UNDERSTAND THAT THE U.S. MILITARY STILL HAS OVERWHELMING. ASEMIMETRIC ADVANTAGE OVER THE. IRANIANS. -- ASYMMETRIC. ALSO OUR MILITARY COMPETENCY. EVERY TIME THE IRANIANS FIRE AT. U.S. WARSHIPS, WE INTERCEPT,

STOP OR THWART THEM, AND HEN THE. UNITED STATES TAKES OUT MULTIPLE. IRANIAN CAPABILITIES, MILITARY. CAPABILITIES BUT ALSO THEIR. COMMERCIAL TANKERS THAT ARE. REALLY BEING USED FOR THE SHADOW. FLEET. BUT WHAT IS DIFFERENT NOW IS. THAT WE'RE SEEING INCREASED. ACTIVITY BY THE HOUTHIS. IRANIAN OFFICIALS ARE GOING TO. INSIST THEY'RE NOT THE ONES. FUNDING THE HOUTHIS, BUT. EVERYBODY SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT. THEY ARE. THE HOUTHIS ARE ONE OF IRAN'S. PRIMARY PROXIES THROUGHOUT THE. REGION, AND NOW THEY'RE TRYING. TO PUT PRESSURE ON THE SAUDIS. BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN A PARTNER.

OF THE UNITED STATES AND BAB. EL-MANDEB, THAT'S THE CHOKEPOINT. THERE IN THE HEAD SEA. MIKE: -- RED RED SEA. MIKE: JAKE, WHAT CONCERNS YOU AT. THIS STAGE? >> WHAT THE IRANIANS ARE DOING. IS TRYING TO OPEN UP THIS SECOND. FRONT BECAUSE THE PRESSURE THAT. REBECCAH TALKED ABOUT CORRECTLY. IS HAVING AN EFFECT ON THEM, AND. THAT'S FORCING THEM NOW TO USE. PROXIES LIKE -- SAUDI ARABIA, ESSENTIALLY, HAS THREE WAYS OF. GETTING ITS OIL OUT. ONE IS THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ. THAT'S BEEN CONTESTED SINCE.

FEBRUARY. TWO IS BAB EL-MANDEB AND, THREE, ITS EAST-WEST PIPELINE. THAT WAS STRUCK THIS THURSDAY. FROM A DRONE STRIKE IN IRAN. SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT, THAT'S. NOT A MILITIA GETTING LUCKY, THIS IS A CONCERTED EFFORT BY. THE IRANIANS TO OPEN UP ANOTHER. CAMPAIGN. MY CONCERN IS THERE ISN'T A. PURELY MILITARY SOLUTION TO THIS. PROBLEM. WE ARE GOING TO BE IN THIS FOR A. MUCH LOANER TIME. ADVICERS TO THE PRESIDENT HAVE. ADMONISHED THAT THIS COULD. ACTUALLY STRETCH OUT THE. REMAINDER OF HIS TERM. AND I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SEEING.

ARE THE STEPS THAT WOULD BE. INSURING THAT ACTUALLY --. MIKE: YOU MADE REFERENCE TO THE. HOUTHIS. COULD THEY DRAG THE SAUDIS INTO. A BROADER REGIONAL CONFLICT? >> I THINK THAT THE SAUDIS HAVE. TO DO MORE. I'M NOT SURE I WOULD DESCRIBE IT. AS THE HOUTHIS DRAGGING THEM. INTO, BUT THE SAUDIS CLEARLY. SHOULD SEE THEY'RE BEING. ATTACKED NOT JUST BY THE. HOUTHIS, BUT THE IRANIANS HAVE. BEEN FIGHTING AGAINST SAUDI OIL. INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL. AND TIME AGAIN, THE SAUDIS HAVE. GOTTEN COLD FEET TRYING TO GET. THE UNITED STATES TO BACK OFF.

THINKING THAT IS GOING TO WIN. THE DAY. REMEMBER, THE PROXIMATE CAUSE. FOR THE CONFLICT WE'RE SEEING. NOW IS NOT THE DECISION THAT. PRESIDENT TRUMP MADE TO LAUNCH. OPERATION EPIC FURY. THE PROXIMATE CAUSE WAS OCTOBER. 7TH WHEN HAMAS LAUNCHED THE. GENOCIDAL ATTACK AGAINST THE. ISRAELIS. HAMAS HAS BEEN SUPPORTED BY. IRAN. SO WHEN THE UNITED STATES AND. ISRAEL RESPONDED TO THOSE. ATTACKS, THAT'S WHAT LED US TO. TODAY. PRESIDENT TRUMP IS TRYING TO. SOLVE THIS ONGOING TERRORIST. PROBLEM IN THE MIDDLE EAST, AND. IT REALLY IS THE HEAD OF THE. DRAGON IS STILL THE IRANIAN.

REGIME. MIKE: JAKE, DOES THE U.S. NEED. TO LAUNCH MORE MILITARY STRIKES. AGAINST RAN JANUARY TARGETS AND. POTENTIALLY AGAINST -- IRANIAN. TARGETS AND POTENTIALLY AGAINST. HOUTHI TARGETS TO CHANGE THE. FLOW OF THIS CONFLICT? >> THIS IS THE REAL DILEMMA, MIKE, BECAUSE WE'RE ALMOST SEVEN. MONTHS INTO THIS CONFLICT THAT. STARTED ON FEBRUARY 28TH. THERE IS NO REAL MILITARY. SOLUTION THAT HAS BROUGHT. TANGIBLE RESULTS TO THE TABLE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE STILL. DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ACTUAL. STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES ARE. IS IT TO CHANGE THE IRANIAN.

REGIME? WE'VE HEARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN. FROM THE IF ADMINISTRATION THIS. IS ABOUT NOT ALLOWING IRAN TO. HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. WHERE ARE THOSE DISCUSSIONS. RIGHT NOW? WE'RE USING MILITARY POWER, NOW. THE U.S. NAVY IS TRYING TO. MAINTAIN FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION. IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ BUT, AGAIN, IF WE'RE GOING TO OPEN UP. A SECOND FRONT AND FOLLOW THAT. WE SENT 100 MILITARY ADVISERS TO. SAUDI ARABIA AS WELL AS A. COMMAND CENTER THERE, THAT TELLS. ME THAT THE UNITED STATES HASN'T. MADE A DECISION TO GET ENGAGED. THE CROWN PRINCE CALLED THE. PRESIDENT LAST THURSDAY ASKING. FOR STRIKES, HE WAS TOLD NO.

SO THE QUESTION IS WHAT IS THE. UNITED STATES GOING TO DO? LET'S NOT LEAVE OUT THE MIDTERMS. THAT ARE COMING UP AND THE FACT. OF THE MATTER IS ARE WE BETTER. OFF NOW THAN WE WERE IN. FEBRUARY? IF YOU LOOK AT GAS PRICES, WE'RE. PROBABLY NOT. MIKE: ARE THE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS. HAVING AN IMPACT, OR ARE WE. DEALING WITH A REGIME THAT. DOESN'T CARE? >> I THINK THE ECONOMIC SQUEEZE. IS HAVING AN IMPACT NOT BECAUSE. THE IRGC CARES ABOUT THE. SUFFERING OF THE IRANIAN PEOPLE, BUT BECAUSE WE'RE CHOKING OFF. THEIR MEANS OF BEING ABLE TO.

RECONSTITUTE MILITARY FORCES, PAY FOR ITS MILITIA. AND SO THAT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME. TIME. BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO. BE ABLE TO CUT OFF OF THE IRGC'S. ABILITY TO RECONSTITUTE AND IS. TAKE OUT THEIR MILITARY. CAPABILITIES AT A RATE FASTER. THAN THEY'RE ABLE TO. RECONSTITUTE. THE ONLY THING THAT CAN ACTUALLY. HELP THE IRANIANS AT THIS POINT. IS IF THEY GET OUTSIDE HELP FROM. STRONGER POWERS, AND THAT'S WHAT. I'M THINKING ABOUT IS CHINA AND. RUSSIA. I ACTUALLY DISAGREE A LITTLE BIT. HERE. I ACTUALLY THINK THAT IT'S THE. IRANIANS THAT ARE DRIVING THIS, IT'S NOT THE UNITED STATES. THE UNITED STATES IS TRYING TO.

END A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN. ONGOING FOR DECADES, AND I DO. THINK THAT WE'RE BETTER OFF NOW. THAN WE WERE BEFORE FEBRUARY. BUT AGAIN, WE'RE SORT OF IN THE. MIDDLE OF THIS BECAUSE THE ENEMY. HAS A VOTE, AND THE ONLY WAY. THROUGH THIS IS TO, I THINK, POWER THROUGH, TAKE OUT THE. IRGC. WE'LL PROBABLY RESUME STRONGER. MILL TAKE ACTIONS, I SUSPECT --. MILITARY -- AFTER THE MIDTERMS. MIKE: ARE SANCTIONS HAVING AN. IMPACT? >> I DON'T THINK YOU'RE SEEING. THEM MOVE THE NEEDLE ENOUGH TO. GET THE IRANIAN REGIME TO COME. TO THE TABLE AND CHANGE THE.

STRATEGIC PICTURE. THIS IS THE DILEMMA THAT WE'RE. DEALING WITH. IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE. MILITARY OPERATIONS DOUBLING. DOWN ON THINGS, WHAT ARE THOSE. STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES GOING TO. DO, AND WHY WOULD THERE BE A. DIFFERENT RESULT THAN IN THE. LAST SEVEN MONTHS? THAT.