Yemen’s Houthis Threaten U.S. Ships in Red Sea If U.S. Joins Strikes on Iran

June 21, 2025 — Yemen’s Houthi movement declared on Saturday it would target American naval and commercial vessels in the Red Sea should the United States join or support Israeli military operations against Iran. The warning, issued by Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree, marks a significant escalation in regional tensions and directly challenges a recent U.S.-Houthi ceasefire agreement brokered in May 2025.

Saree emphasized that the group is closely monitoring regional military movements and will take “necessary measures” to protect its interests, describing any potential Israeli attack on Iran as an attempt to remove Tehran as an obstacle to Israeli dominance in the region. “If America is involved in the attack and aggression against Iran, the armed forces will target its ships and battleships in the Red Sea,” Saree stated in a broadcast on Houthi-run media.

The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, have long been aligned with Iran and have previously launched attacks on Israeli-linked shipping and military targets in solidarity with Palestinians since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in late 2023. The group’s latest threat comes amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran, with recent U.S. sanctions targeting Houthi-linked economic entities and reports of U.S. strategic bomber deployments toward the Pacific.

The Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait are critical global trade routes, with approximately 10% of world trade passing through the area. Any escalation in this region could have significant economic and security repercussions worldwide. The Houthis have also vowed to block the Bab al-Mandab Strait in response to any U.S. military involvement, further threatening the stability of one of the world’s most vital maritime corridors.

This development occurs against a backdrop of ongoing civil conflict, terrorism, and humanitarian crisis in Yemen, compounding the risks to regional and global security. The Houthi statement underscores the fragility of recent diplomatic efforts and the potential for rapid escalation in the event of broader conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.