The Houthi group in Yemen issued warnings to the United States and the countries participating in the maritime coalition it is forming against the escalation in Yemen and the protection of Israeli ships.
The military spokesman for the Houthi group, Yahya Saree, warned the United States of what he described as the consequences of escalation against Yemen. He also warned all countries that Washington seeks to “involve or involve them with in protecting the ships of the Zionist enemy,” as he put it.
Sarie said in a statement on the X platform that the group “will not hesitate to take whatever is necessary to defend and confront any aggression.”
At this important stage in the history of our Yemeni people and the history of our Arab and Islamic nation, the Yemeni Armed Forces affirm the following:
First: The Yemeni Armed Forces warn the American enemy of the consequences of any escalation against our country and our people and also warn all countries that the American seeks to involve or implicate with it…– Brigadier General Yahya Saree (@army21ye) December 29, 2023
He also reaffirmed “Yemen’s firm position towards the Palestinian issue and the oppression of the Palestinian people, which will not change, no matter the developments or the challenges,” according to the statement.
The United States is working to form a multinational maritime coalition to help protect commercial transit traffic in the Red Sea from attacks launched by the Houthi group from Yemen.
The Pentagon said last week that more than 20 countries have so far agreed to participate in the coalition known as Operation Prosperity Sentinel.
But some countries have not confirmed their participation, and others have said their efforts to help protect commercial shipping operations in the Red Sea will come within the framework of existing maritime agreements rather than a new process led by Washington.
During the past weeks, the Houthi group announced the targeting of a number of ships that it said were owned by Israel, operated by Israeli companies, or transported goods to and from Israel as they passed through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, in solidarity with the Gaza Strip, which has been subjected to a devastating Israeli war since last October 7.
