Houthis Threaten U.S. Ships In Red Sea If America Joins Israeli Strikes On Iran

Yemeni militia group houthis have issued a statement threatening attack on US ships in Middle East if the United States becomes involved in the ongoing Iran Israel conflict

Brigadier General Yaha Saree, spokesperson of Houthi rebel said on saturday “Any American attack and aggression in support of the Israeli enemy against Iran, within the same objective aimed at enabling the Israeli enemy to control the entire region — this cannot be remained silent about. In the event of American involvement in the attack and aggression on Iran alongside the Israeli enemy, the Yemeni Armed Forces will target its ships and warships in the Red Sea.

The Armed Forces are monitoring and observing all movements in the region, including hostile movements against our country, and, with God’s help, will take the necessary legitimate measures to defend our dear country and its proud people.”

The statement has resurged as America joins the Israel-Iran conflict. In a short address to the nation, President Donald Trump announced that U.S. bombers had “completely destroyed” three major Iranian nuclear facilities. He warned that additional targets would be struck if Iran did not agree to “make peace.” The attacks involved the seldom-used B-2 stealth bombers, which are a highly classified and critical element of America’s nuclear deterrence strategy.

Who are Houthi ?

Yemen's Houthis are an ethnic minority in the country. They belong to the Shia sect of Islam in the Sunni-majority Yemen. The Yemeni Civil War and the movement of the Houthis merge the ethnic and regional movements. The Houthis are based in the country's north and the Sunnis dominate the south. Hence, there are regional, religious, and ethnic dimensions to the long-running conflict. The Houthis of Yemen are a clan practising Zayd form of Shia Islam.

They make up around 35 per cent of the country's population. They have historically ruled the region that's modern Yemen but have been out of power in recent decades and the disgruntlement resulted in a section of the clan taking up arms against the internationally-recognised government. Formally, the Houthis call themselves Ansar Allah (Partisans of God).

Why Houthis support Iran ?

Iran began providing military assistance to the Houthis as early as 2009, during their initial conflict with Yemen’s government. By 2014, when the Houthis seized control of Sanaa, most experts agree that Iran was supplying them with weapons. In both instances, Saudi Arabia’s military actions against the Houthis likely spurred greater involvement from Tehran.

While groups aligned with Iran are often labeled as its proxies, many experts argue that the Houthis are more accurately seen as cooperative partners of Iran.

According to Michael Knights of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Iran’s strategy of spreading the ideals of its 1979 Islamic Revolution by backing armed groups grants these allies a certain level of independence. Still, the Houthis share both ideological ties and strategic goals with Iran, which, Knights noted, motivates them to support the Islamic Republic.