By: TPA News Desk | editor@thepointafricanews.com

SANA’A – Yemen’s Houthi movement has issued a direct threat to the United States, vowing to target U.S. warships and commercial vessels in the Red Sea should Washington actively support Israeli military operations against Iran.

The warning was delivered Saturday by Brigadier General Yahya Saree, the group’s chief military spokesperson, during a televised address widely circulated on pro-Houthi channels. Saree stated that “any U.S. involvement in aggression against Iran will make its ships and warships legitimate targets in the Red Sea and surrounding waters.”

The announcement comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, where a dramatic escalation between Israel and Iran has raised concerns of a wider regional war. Over the past week, Israel has carried out strikes on suspected Iranian nuclear and military sites, prompting Tehran to respond with long-range missile attacks. While the U.S. has stopped short of direct involvement, its diplomatic and logistical backing of Israel continues to draw ire from Iranian allies in the region.

This is not the first time the Houthis—backed by Iran and in control of much of northern Yemen—have targeted maritime assets. Between late 2023 and early 2025, the group disrupted global trade by attacking or seizing vessels in the Red Sea, prompting joint Western airstrikes on their military infrastructure in Yemen. A temporary de-escalation was achieved earlier this year, but the latest threat risks reigniting a volatile maritime conflict.

The Red Sea is a key global shipping route, with nearly 12% of world trade passing through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. Any renewed Houthi attacks could force rerouting of cargo ships and oil tankers, increasing costs and potentially triggering supply chain disruptions.

In response, U.S. naval officials have yet to issue a formal statement, but Pentagon sources say American forces in the region have been placed on heightened alert. Military analysts caution that even indirect provocations could spiral into broader conflict, especially with multiple regional actors now posturing for influence.

International observers have called for restraint and renewed diplomacy. “A single miscalculation in the Red Sea could endanger not just the region but global economic stability,” warned one Gulf-based security expert.