Sanaa, Yemen — Yemen’s Houthi rebels warned they would target U.S. commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea if Washington takes part in any attack alongside Israel against Iran. The threat was issued by Houthi spokesperson Yahya Sarea, who portrayed U.S. involvement as part of a wider plan to enable Israeli dominance in the region.
Sarea said American participation in strikes against Iran would amount to aggression aimed at “confiscating the freedom, independence and dignity” of nations, and accused supporters of such action of seeking to humiliate and subjugate peoples while enabling looting and occupation.
Framing the confrontation in religious and political terms, he described it as “the battle of the entire nation,” invoked Quranic passages urging believers to fight and promising divine support, and tied the movement to a broader jihadist narrative of pride and victory.
He also said Yemen’s Armed Forces are tracking regional developments closely, including any hostile moves against Yemen, and pledged to take “necessary legitimate measures” to defend the country and its people if attacked.
Sarea reaffirmed Yemeni solidarity with other Arab and Islamic states, reiterating support for Palestinian resistance and pledging that Yemen would stand with any Arab or Islamic nation facing what he called “Zionist aggression,” and would not abandon the people of Gaza.
The warning highlights mounting regional tensions and signals the possibility of military action in the strategically important Red Sea should the United States intervene alongside Israel against Iran.
