Yemen’s Houthi movement warned on Saturday, June 21, 2025, that it would strike U.S. vessels navigating the Red Sea if Washington participates in any military operation by Israel against Iran’s nuclear or military infrastructure.
The announcement according to hindustantimes.com, came as tensions soared in the Middle East, where a delicate ceasefire between the Houthis and the U.S. hangs in the balance.
In May, both sides reached a landmark agreement, pausing hostilities: the Houthis agreed not to target U.S. ships, and the U.S. halted aerial assaults on Houthi territory.
This truce, facilitated by Oman, brought temporary relief after weeks of Houthi missile and drone strikes targeting commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden
However, in a dramatic statement released on Saturday, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree declared that any direct American backing of Israeli strikes on Iran would be met with Houthi attacks on U.S. ships and warships in the strategically vital Red Sea
“If the U.S. gets involved in an attack and aggression against Iran with the Israeli enemy, the armed forces will target its ships and warships in the Red Sea,” Saree warned in a video.
This marks a sharp escalation in the group’s stance, effectively threatening U.S. naval assets should the Israelis receive U.S. support against Iran
Regional Stakes and Historical Context
The Houthis, an Iran-aligned group based in Yemen, have been intermittently attacking ships in the Red Sea since late 2023, framed as actions of solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing Gaza conflict.
Initially targeting vessels linked to Israel, their operations expanded to include U.S. and U.K. ships and commercial vessels globally
These operations severely disrupted one of the world’s busiest maritime routes, forcing container companies to reroute around Africa, adding time, cost, and risk to global shipping.
At its height, over sixty attacks had been carried out, prompting an international military response .
In response, the U.S. and its allies launched Operation Prosperity Guardian in December 2023. This naval operation, now joined by the U.K. and others, deployed warships and conducted airstrikes to shield the shipping lanes and deter further Houthi aggression
Despite military force and missile interceptions, Houthi threats persisted.
Sporadic missile attacks continued, including on U.S. carrier groups like the Harry S. Truman, according to Houthi claims, though such assertions often went unverified
Breaks in Ceasefire and Warning of Escalation
Earlier this year, U.S. intelligence suggested the Houthis were exploring an end to maritime aggression.
This led to the May 6 ceasefire—the first significant pause in attacks since the Gaza war intensified
However, the ceasefire focused only on U.S. vessels.
The Houthis have been explicit that it does not apply to Israel.
Any shift in Washington’s approach toward Iran, especially if it involves Israel, risks unraveling the agreement.
Saree’s threat thus underscores the fragility of the ceasefire and the ongoing risk of a broader regional conflict
Strategic Implications
The Red Sea’s Bab al-Mandeb Strait is a critical artery for global shipping, moving energy and goods between Europe and Asia.
Any disruption there would ripple through global supply chains, raise energy prices, and threaten maritime safety.
A decision by the U.S. to enter a conflict against Iran could expose its naval forces to direct Houthi attacks, escalating a proxy war into open naval engagements.
This possibility draws attention to the expanding theatre of conflict and the interconnected nature of Middle Eastern hostilities.
A Test of Diplomacy and Deterrence
Saree’s declaration places strategic pressure on U.S. policymakers: supporting Israeli strikes risks triggering direct military attacks against American assets.
For the Houthis and Iran, it’s a deterrent message, intervene in Israel’s strike effort and face consequences at sea.
For now, the naval truce remains in effect.
But should the U.S. shift its stance, the Houthis have left little doubt: U.S. ships in the Red Sea would be deemed legitimate targets.
This episode underscores how Syria’s Gaza war and rising U.S.–Iran tensions continue to fuel fragmentation across the region, each escalation threatening to embroil broader players into new arenas of conflict.
