The Houthi rebels have declared their intention to escalate their actions in response to recent strikes carried out by the United States and the United Kingdom in Yemen. The strikes were conducted in retaliation for a drone attack on a U.S. base in Jordan. Despite the airstrikes, a spokesman for the Iran-backed Houthi group vowed to persist with their efforts to disrupt regional trade, emphasizing their commitment to their cause regardless of the sacrifices involved.
In a statement posted on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), Houthi spokesman Mohammed al-Bukhaiti affirmed their resolve to continue military operations against Israel until they perceive an end to what they describe as genocide in Gaza and the lifting of the siege on its residents. Al-Bukhaiti asserted that their conflict is grounded in moral principles, emphasizing their intervention to support what they perceive as the oppressed in Gaza. He warned that the aggression from the U.S. and the U.K. against Yemen would not go unanswered and that they would respond to escalation with escalation.
Tensions in the region have soared following the death of three U.S. soldiers in the Jordanian attack. President Biden has pledged a sustained response, targeting Iran-backed groups not only in Yemen but also in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan indicated that strikes within Iran are not ruled out, while emphasizing the U.S. administration’s commitment to defending its forces and avoiding wider conflict in the Middle East.
Amidst these developments, tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have intensified, posing the risk of further conflict in the region. Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based group supported by Iran, has launched numerous missiles across Israel’s northern border. Israeli military officials have issued warnings, stating their readiness to invade and respond to threats wherever Hezbollah is active, extending their operations beyond Lebanon to other areas such as Syria.