Houthis warn of entry into Mideast war if US-Israel alliance expands
Yemen’s Iran‑aligned movement says it could open new front, threatening Bab al‑Mandeb Strait and global shipping
SANAA, Yemen (MNTV) — Yemen’s Iran‑aligned Houthi movement says it is ready to intervene militarily alongside Iran if the war expands against Tehran, and has warned it could target the strategic Bab al‑Mandeb Strait — a key waterway for global shipping — amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.
In recent declarations, the group’s leadership, including Houthi leader Abdul‑Malik al‑Houthi, has stated they do not consider themselves neutral in the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Tehran, condemning the strikes as “unjustified.”
They warned that any further escalation could trigger a military response in support of Iran.
Analysts say the rhetoric reflects broader concerns about the war’s expansion, as Houthi forces have previously targeted international shipping near the Bab al‑Mandeb Strait during past conflicts, and could do so again if allied forces align with U.S. and Israeli operations.
The Bab al‑Mandeb Strait, linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and Suez Canal routes, is one of the world’s most vital maritime chokepoints.
Disruption there could compound supply chain strains already triggered by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz and drive global energy and trade costs even higher.
Critics argue that such a Houthi escalation underscores the broader destabilizing effects of Washington and Tel Aviv’s military campaign, which has drawn in regional actors and risked turning localized conflict into a multi‑front crisis.
While the Houthis have so far refrained from direct involvement alongside Tehran’s ground forces, their leadership’s statements suggest that any formal alliance with U.S. and Israeli forces could prompt a sharp expansion of hostilities.
Observers also note that the group’s readiness to act should be viewed in the context of Yemen’s long civil war and the Houthis’ historical alignment with Iran‑backed proxies, even as local priorities and internal dynamics remain complex and driven by tribal, political, and regional interests.
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