Iran-Backed Houthis Renew Threats Amid US Military Strikes In Yemen

Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a member of the group’s Supreme Political Council, issued the threats in an interview with Al-Masirah television channel, denouncing US pressure on other nations to join the 20-plus nation coalition against Yemen formed in response to its Red Sea blockade.

"We renew our warnings that any country that would act against our country would make its interests a legitimate target for us," al-Houthi stated, describing the US strikes as "arrogant" and "unjustified actions."

Al-Houthi also cautioned Saudi Arabia specifically against aiding the joint US-British aggression, warning that it would become a target for the rebel group which has been in a war with a Saudi-led coalition for almost a decade.

The Houthis have carried out dozens of missile and drone attacks on ships passing through the Red Sea, which they claim are linked to Israel. Recently, a Chinese-owned oil tanker was targeted, though no casualties were reported.

Despite the attacks, assurances were given to China and Russia that their ships would not be targeted, according to al-Houthi.

The US and UK have intensified strikes against Houthi positions to deter further attacks in the Red Sea, with recent strikes targeting underground storage facilities controlled by the rebels.

The blockade was launched in November on the orders of Iran’s supreme leader, in solidarity with terror group Hamas’s war against Israel, launched on October 7.

However, the blockade aiming to target Israeli linked vessels has since seen attacks on multiple international ships passing through the critical trade route.