A senior Houthi military adviser has warned the United States that American interests in the region could become targets if Washington provides military support to Saudi Arabia or attempts to take control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Abed Mohammed al-Thawr, a Houthi military adviser, made the remarks in an interview with AFP on Tuesday. He said any direct US military involvement in the conflict would be considered a “red line” by the Iran-aligned Yemeni group.
Thawr warned that US airstrikes or military support for Saudi Arabia could lead to retaliation against American interests. He also said the Houthis would consider closing the Bab el-Mandeb completely to US ships if Washington attempted to intervene militarily or take control of the strategic waterway.
The warning comes amid a renewed escalation in the conflict involving the Houthis and Saudi Arabia. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, is a major shipping route for international trade and energy supplies.
According to the report, the Houthis seized control of the strategic waterway earlier this month after a 2022 truce between Saudi Arabia and the group collapsed. The developments have raised concerns about the potential impact on shipping through the Red Sea.
Saudi Arabia, which supports Yemen’s internationally recognised government, has been carrying out military operations against the Houthis. US reports have also said that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has sought assistance from President Donald Trump amid the escalation. Yemen’s Saudi-backed government has reportedly made a similar request to Washington.
Thawr denied that Iran directly controls Houthi military decisions. He described Iran as a friendly and allied country but said the Houthis make their own decisions.
The latest escalation follows the breakdown of the Saudi-Houthi truce in July. According to the report, tensions increased after an Iranian aircraft was allowed to land directly at Sanaa airport. Saudi-led forces subsequently carried out an airstrike targeting the airport’s runway.
The Houthis later launched retaliatory attacks toward southern Saudi Arabia and expanded their control along parts of Yemen’s Red Sea coast.
The group has also claimed that Saudi airstrikes have caused civilian casualties, allegations that Saudi Arabia has not accepted as presented by the Houthis.
In recent weeks, the Houthis have targeted locations inside Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh. Saudi Arabia also accused the group of targeting Mecca, a claim the Houthis denied.
The latest threats have added to concerns over the security of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the wider Red Sea region, with any prolonged disruption potentially affecting international maritime trade.
Reader Comments 0