Yemen’s Houthi-led rebel government has announced its full backing for the group’s armed wing, which vowed to target American ships in the Red Sea following the United States’ entry into the ongoing conflict with Iran.
The Houthis declared in a statement issued Saturday: “We affirm the Republic of Yemen’s commitment to the armed forces’ declaration that they were ready to target US ships and warships in the Red Sea.”;
The threat comes just hours after U.S. forces launched a series of strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, joining Israel in a dramatic escalation of the regional conflict.
Houthi forces, aligned with Iran, have previously targeted shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, and Saturday’s statement raises the stakes for commercial and military vessels transiting one of the world’s most vital maritime corridors.
The Houthi government framed the U.S. strikes as “aggression”; and reiterated its support for “any Arab or Muslim nation under Zionist or American attack.”;
Analysts warn that the Houthis’ involvement could further destabilize regional trade routes and draw other Iranian allies deeper into the spiraling conflict.
The U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet has reportedly increased its presence in the Red Sea in anticipation of potential retaliatory attacks.
