Ali al-Qahoum, a member of the Houthi group’s Ansarullah politburo, issued a warning on Al Mayadeen TV, a Hezbollah-allied pan-Arabist news channel, stating that any hostile actions against Yemen will result in severe consequences and significant costs. He emphasized the Houthis’ commitment to the Palestinian cause, vowing to persist in operations against Israel despite threats from the US, Israel, or the Western powers.
Al-Qahoum asserted that Yemen is well-prepared defensively to counter any aggression from the US, Israel, or the West, while expressing concern for safeguarding international maritime navigation in compliance with global laws and norms. The US military reported Houthi-controlled Yemen’s attacks on two Liberian-flagged ships in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, highlighting the peril posed to vessels in shipping lanes by the Iran-aligned group.
As part of the “Axis of Resistance” aligned with Iran, the Houthis have targeted Red Sea shipping lanes and launched drones and missiles at Israel. They declared their intention to continue these attacks until Israel ceases its offensive in the Gaza Strip, asserting control over much of Yemen.