Houthis threaten U.S. ships in Red Sea over potential involvement in Israeli-Iran conflict

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have issued a stark warning to the United States, vowing to target American ships in the Red Sea should Washington support Israeli military action against Iran.

The threat, delivered on Saturday by the group’s military spokesperson, marks a significant escalation amid growing regional tensions.

“If the United States intervenes in Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran, American warships in the Red Sea will become legitimate targets,” the spokesperson said in a televised address aired on Houthi-aligned media.

The statement did not specify the nature of any planned operations but emphasized the group’s readiness for what it called a “regional confrontation.”

The warning comes despite a fragile ceasefire between the United States and the Houthis, agreed in May. Under the terms of the informal truce, both sides pledged to refrain from attacks, with the U.S. halting airstrikes and the Houthis suspending missile and drone assaults on maritime traffic in the region.

Saturday’s declaration raises concerns about the potential collapse of the ceasefire and the widening of the Israel-Iran conflict, which has already rattled the broader Middle East.

Tensions flared further in recent days following Israeli airstrikes on suspected Iranian-linked targets, prompting Tehran to issue its own warnings of retaliation.

The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen including the capital Sanaa, have long positioned themselves as part of the Iran-backed “Axis of Resistance,” alongside Hezbollah in Lebanon and various Iraqi militias.

Their naval attacks over the past year have targeted ships in the Red Sea they accuse of links to Israel, drawing sharp condemnation and occasional military responses from Western nations.

U.S. officials have not publicly responded to the latest threats, but the Pentagon has previously warned that any attacks on American assets will be met with force. The U.S. Navy maintains a significant presence in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, tasked with safeguarding global shipping lanes.

The Red Sea remains a vital artery for international trade, with any renewed hostilities threatening to disrupt maritime commerce and energy supplies.

Analysts warn that a new round of Houthi attacks could further destabilize an already volatile region and complicate U.S. efforts to contain the spread of the Israeli-Iranian conflict.