Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels issued a stark warning Friday, declaring their readiness for direct military action if additional nations align with the United States and Israel in their conflict against Iran, or if Red Sea waters are utilized to launch strikes against the Islamic Republic.
“We confirm that our fingers are on the trigger for direct military intervention” should any new partnerships emerge to support Washington and Israel against Iran and its allies, or if the Red Sea becomes a staging ground for “hostile operations” against Iran, declared military spokesman Yahya Saree during a broadcast address.
Saree further indicated the Houthis stood ready to respond if what he characterized as escalating actions against Iran and the “axis of resistance” persisted, though he provided no specifics about potential intervention methods.
This declaration heightens concerns about expanded regional warfare, especially considering the Houthis’ demonstrated capacity to attack distant targets and interfere with maritime traffic around the Arabian Peninsula.
Tehran’s Shiite partners in Lebanon and Iraq have already entered the regional conflict sparked by American and Israeli operations against Iran. Until this announcement, the Houthis had not declared direct participation in the war, despite possessing significant military resources and controlling strategic territory overlooking the Red Sea.
During his address, Saree emphasized the group would prevent Red Sea usage for “hostile operations” against Iran or any Muslim nation. He also cautioned against further intensification of what he termed “the blockade on Yemen.”
Saree demanded immediate cessation of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and allied nations, including Palestinian areas, Lebanon and Iraq, while calling for Gaza ceasefire implementation.
Following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, assault on Israel that sparked the Gaza conflict, the Houthis initiated attacks on international vessels in the Red Sea, claiming solidarity with Palestinians.
The organization also fired drones and missiles toward Israel, prompting Israeli counterstrikes and U.S. military operations against Houthi positions in Yemen.
The Houthis suspended these attacks following a U.S.-mediated ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in October 2025.
