Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement has warned it is prepared for direct military intervention as the United States and Israel continue their war against Iran, raising concerns of a widening regional confrontation.
The group’s military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, said in a televised address that “We confirm that our fingers are on the trigger for direct military intervention” if additional countries join the conflict or if the Red Sea is used for hostile operations against Iran.
He added that the Houthis were ready to act if escalation continued against Iran, though he did not specify the nature of any potential response.
The warning highlights the Houthis’ capacity to target areas beyond Yemen, including critical shipping lanes around the Arabian Peninsula.
Such capabilities have previously enabled the group to disrupt maritime traffic in the Red Sea, a key global trade route.
Saree also stated that the group would not allow the Red Sea to be used for attacks against Iran or any Muslim country and cautioned against further tightening of what he described as a blockade on Yemen.
The statement comes as the regional conflict intensifies, with Iran’s allies in Lebanon and Iraq already involved following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Tehran.
The Houthis had not previously declared direct entry into the war despite their alignment with Iran and strategic position overlooking major waterways.
Their involvement would mark a significant escalation in a conflict already spanning multiple fronts.
Since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, the Houthis have launched attacks on Red Sea shipping and carried out drone and missile strikes against Israel, citing solidarity with Palestinians.
Those actions prompted retaliatory strikes by the United States and Israel on targets in Yemen.
A truce agreed in May led to a halt in attacks on U.S. shipping, while a later ceasefire in Gaza resulted in the suspension of strikes on Israel and Israeli-linked vessels.
Saree renewed calls for an immediate halt to U.S. and Israeli military actions across Iran, the Palestinian territories, Lebanon, and Iraq, and urged adherence to the Gaza ceasefire agreement.