US-Israeli military action against Iran escalates tensions with Houthi rebels

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis issue warning of potential military intervention

In a televised speech on Friday, Yahya Saree, the Houthi group’s military spokesperson, stated that his organization is prepared to intervene militarily if other countries join the United States and Israel in their conflict with Iran. Saree also warned that the Houthis would take action if the Red Sea was used for “hostile operations” against Iran or any Muslim country.

The Houthi group has previously targeted vessels in the Red Sea and carried out drone and missile attacks against Israel, citing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. However, the group had agreed to a truce with the US in May, which included an agreement to stop attacks on US shipping in the Red Sea.

Saree’s warning raises concerns about the potential for a broader regional conflict, particularly given the Houthis’ ability to strike targets far beyond Yemen and disrupt shipping lanes around the Arabian Peninsula. The group has controlled much of Yemen since 2014 and has been involved in ongoing conflicts with Israel and the US.

The Houthi leader also called for an immediate halt to US and Israeli attacks on Iran, the Palestinian territories, Lebanon, and Iraq. He warned against any further tightening of what he described as “the blockade on Yemen.”

Source: Al Jazeera