By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
JERUSALEM/DUBAI (Worthy News) – American warships faced possible attacks Friday after Yemen’s Houthis warned they would strike U.S. warships if Washington targeted the Iranian-backed militia.
The warning came as a U.S.-led multinational, Operation Prosperity Guardian, began patrolling the Red Sea to counter Houthi strikes on commercial vessels in the strategic waterway.
The Iran-backed Houthis, which control much territory in Yemen after years of war, have fired drones and missiles at international vessels sailing through the Red Sea.
They also urged ships to avoid traveling to or from Israeli ports, where Israel’s military is on high alert for incoming rockets and drones.
The Houthis say the attacks they launched last month are in retaliation for Israel’s strikes in the Gaza Strip, which began after Hamas killed some 1,200 people in Israel on October 7.
“We will not stand idly by if the Americans are tempted to escalate further and commit foolishness by targeting our country or waging war against it,” said Houthi leader Abdel-Malek al-Houthi in remarks seen by Worthy News.
AMERICANS TARGET
“Any American targeting of our country will be targeted by us, and we will make American battleships, interests, and navigation a target for our missiles, drones, and military operations,” he added.
The tensions are the latest armed standoff in the Middle East to pit the United States and its allies against regional power Iran and its Arab militia proxies.
Several firms have recently said they are halting passage through the Red Sea amid fears of Houthi attacks, which can add days or weeks to shipping.
It wasn’t immediately clear Friday whether these companies would return to the Red Sea.
The U.S. says it will conduct joint patrols in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden alongside Britain, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, the Seychelles and Spain.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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