Houthi rebels in Yemen warned they are ready to enter the war if escalation continues, setting the Red Sea as a key red line. Their involvement could disrupt global shipping routes, especially alongside rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Houthi movement rebels in Yemen have issued a blunt warning: they are ready to step into the war in support of Iran if the current US-Israel escalation continues or expands. Speaking on Friday, military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group’s “fingers are on the trigger,” making it clear they are prepared for direct military intervention. He laid out three specific red lines:
- The first is the entry of any new countries or alliances alongside the US and Israel against Iran and what the Houthis call the “Axis of Resistance.”
- The second is the use of the Red Sea by Washington or Israel to launch attacks against Iran or any Muslim country.
- The third is the continued escalation against Iran and its allies across the wider conflict.
The warning carries weight because of where the Houthis are positioned, along Yemen’s western coast near Bab al-Mandeb, one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints. If they act, the Red Sea could once again become a dangerous zone for global shipping.
That risk isn’t hypothetical. During Israel’s war on Gaza, the Houthis targeted commercial vessels using drones and missiles, disrupting major shipping lanes. They also launched attacks toward Israel, drawing strong military responses from both the US and Israel.
Their possible entry now could make an already fragile situation worse. It comes at a time when tensions are also rising around the Strait of Hormuz. Together, Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb form a crucial trade corridor, ships leaving the Gulf pass through Hormuz, cross the Arabian Sea, move into the Gulf of Aden, and then through the Red Sea toward the Suez Canal and Europe. If both routes are hit, the impact on global trade could be severe.
