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Yemen’s Houthis (Ansar Allah) issued a new warning to the United States on December 29, cautioning against any military escalation and pledging to continue attacks on “Israel-related” ships in the Red Sea.
The Houthis, who control much of Yemen’s Red Sea coast, are a part of the so-called Axis of Resistance that is backed by Iran and opposes Israel.
The group has fired several missiles and drones at the southernmost Israeli city of Eilat since the beginning of the Israeli war on the Palestinian Gaza Strip. It also assaulted a number of Israeli-related ships and announced a blockade on all ships heading to Israel.
The U.S. responded by launching Operation Prosperity Guardian to “ensure the safety of maritime traffic” in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb and Gulf of Aden.
Houthi spokesman Brigade General Yahya Sari, in a statement broadcast on the Sanaa-based Al Masirah TV, affirmed the group’s commitment to counter any potential aggression against Yemen.
“The Yemeni Armed Forces warn the American enemy of the consequences of any escalation against our country and our people, and also warn all countries that the American seeks to involve or implicate it in protecting the ships of the Zionist enemy,” the spokesman said.
“The Yemeni Armed Forces will not hesitate to take every measure necessary to defend and confront any aggression within their religious and national duties and responsibilities,” he added.
The U.S. operation in the Red Sea has already run into several problems. Spain, Italy and France refused to take part in the operation. Several other allies of Washington declined to send warships.
Several reports from earlier this month said the U.S. was planning strikes against the Houthis. However, more recent ones said Washington was not very inclined to take action.
U.S. warships and aircraft have intercepted several drones and missiles which were launched by the Houthis from Yemen over the Red Sea since the beginning of the escalations. Still, the Houthis managed to hit 14 ships and seized another one.
The Houthis’ repeated attacks forced some of the world’s largest shipping companies to suspend operations in the Red Sea, causing a shipping crisis and mounting serious pressure on both the U.S. and Israel.
