US military strikes alone on Yemen’s Houthis will not deter them from more attacks, the top US general said Tuesday, calling for more political will and international cooperation.

Speaking alongside Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin at a press briefing in Washington, Gen. CQ Brown highlighted the ongoing efforts by the US to degrade the military capabilities of the Houthis. “What we are doing is actually taking away capability from the military aspect,” he said in response to a question from Al Arabiya English. But he was quick to point out that this strategy requires more than just military intervention.

“To be able to address it, it’s going to take broader measures than just the military,” Gen. Brown explained. He stressed the importance of countering smuggling operations and enhancing sanctions.

The Houthis have escalated their attacks in the region recently, with an attack on Tel Aviv prompting Israeli retaliatory strikes on Yemen’s Port of Hodeidah and its oil and power facilities on July 20. This escalation has resulted in the sinking and damaging of commercial ships, the disruption of trade and civilian casualties.

Brown urged for more to be done countering smuggling efforts to the Houthis and more sanctions to prevent them from procuring weapons and being able to finance their attacks.

Washington recently issued Yemen-related counterterrorism sanctions targeting individuals and entities linked to Houthi financial facilitator Sa’id al-Jamal, aiming to curb illicit shipments and money laundering activities.

The US general underscored the necessity of international collaboration in these efforts. “That’s the conversation of the things that we need to do, not just for the US but with the international community.”

Gen. Brown also called for raising awareness about the impact of Houthi activities on maritime navigation and commerce in the Red Sea. “There is a flow of navigation, but there is an impact,” he said.

Since November, Houthi militants have launched drone and missile strikes in shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, significantly disrupting global trade. The Iran-backed group claims these actions are in solidarity with Palestinians affected by Israel’s war in Gaza.

The United States and Britain have conducted retaliatory strikes, targeting Houthi military positions to protect international shipping routes.