The threat comes as Israel and its Western allies strengthen their presence in the Red Sea as rebels target shipping.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have warned Israel, the United States and other Western allies that any hostile moves by foreign forces against the country would have disastrous consequences and come at a high cost.
The Iran-aligned Houthis, who control much of Yemen but are not internationally recognized, have escalated maritime tensions by launching near-daily attacks on vital waterways to pressure Israel in its war against Palestinian armed group Hamas.
Ali al-Qahoum, a member of the Houthis’ Ansarullah politburo, said Yemen was ready to use all defensive options to respond to any military measures by the United States, Israel or other Western powers.
“The Houthis will not abandon the Palestinian cause, regardless of American, Israeli or Western threats,” al-Qahoum said in an interview with Lebanese Al Mayadeen television on Friday evening, adding that operations against Israel would continue.
The threat comes as two of the world’s largest shipping companies announced they would suspend all voyages across the Red Sea after a series of attacks on ships by the Houthis.
Danish shipping company Maersk announced on Friday that it was suspending the passage of its ships through the key Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and German container shipping company Hapag-Lloyd announced that it would suspend voyages in the sea Red until Monday.
Staunch supporters of the Palestinians, the Houthis claimed responsibility for the attacks and said: “We will continue to prevent all ships from heading to Israeli ports until the food and medicine our people need in the Strip from Gaza are transported.
“We assure all ships heading to all ports around the world, except Israeli ports, that they will not suffer any damage and must keep their identification devices activated. »
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters in Tel Aviv that “while the Houthis are pulling the trigger, so to speak, Iran is giving them the gun.”
The Houthis threaten freedom of movement in the Red Sea, vital for massive shipments of oil and goods, he said.
About 40 percent of international trade passes through this area, which leads to the Red Sea, southern Israeli port facilities and the Suez Canal.
Insurance costs for ships transiting the region have jumped in recent days, amounting to increases of tens of thousands of dollars for larger vessels like oil tankers, according to reports.
While warships crossing the Red Sea are well equipped and can return fire, commercial ships do not benefit from the same protections.
The rebels also attempted to hijack and capture several ships in the Red Sea, succeeding at least once in November.
My full statement on the attack: pic.twitter.com/fEK60ywjpB
– The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) December 16, 2023
Warships from the United States, United Kingdom and France continue to patrol the area and have fired several Houthi-launched missiles from the sky.
On Saturday, Grant Shapps, Britain’s Defense Secretary, said in an article on
Meanwhile, during his press conference in Israel, Sullivan said the United States is “working with the international community, with partners in the region and around the world” to address current threats to ships at sea Red.