Yemen’s Houthi-controlled military announced on June 23rd it is joining in a conflict against the US and Israel, issuing stark warnings to naval vessels operating in the region’s waters. This declaration marks an escalation in regional tensions initiated by U.S. and Israeli targeting of Iranian interests.
Brigadier General Yahya Saree, Yemen’s armed forces spokesperson, issued the announcement via his personal X account on his personal X account: “Yemen will officially join this war. All ships should remain out of our territorial waters”
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This move by Houthi leaders indicates their growing alliance with Iran since Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites on June 13, as well as subsequent U.S. bombing, occurred.
Hours before Saree made his proclamation, Iran-backed airstrikes struck key nuclear facilities in Iran–Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan–prompting Houthi forces to alter their position and revamp their tactics. According to Iran-aligned media reports, Saree asserted this Houthi response was in response to “U.S. strikes against Iran,” noting they may resume attacks against American ships in Red Sea if U.S. military operations continued.
Houthi forces’ announcement comes against an ongoing barrage of strikes on Israeli shipping and installations by Houthi-controlled Yemen, with Israeli soldiers intercepting one missile launched from Houthi territory – further evidence of their increasing capabilities, according to sources such as Reuter’s.com + timesofindia.indiatimes.com (+2).
This incident set off sirens across parts of Israel, signalling regional vulnerability as tensions escalated, according to timesofindia.indiatimes.com
These developments threaten the fragile ceasefire reached earlier this year between the U.S. and Houthis in the Red Sea through Oman mediation, in effect since May 6th. Under that accord, Houthi vessels agreed to stop attacking U.S. and allied vessels while still reserving their right to strike Israeli vessels if attacked – something Houthi leader Abu Muhammad Al Houthi reiterated after this latest outbreak. For more details please read en.wikipedia.org/87589335434293855488629944566880882564298434788934483548895863841 87485387485 +4 +456871
U.S. military officials have expressed concern that Houthis will remain an ongoing challenge to Israel and Iran operations, and say senior Pentagon leaders expect them to “act again” should operations against Iran continue in future. TimesofIsrael.com reports.
This announcement also adds another layer of complexity for naval security in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, particularly Operation Prosperity Guardian, launched by U.S. and allied navies in December 2023 and designed to protect commercial shipping against Houthi threats, but more information needs to be gathered about how this initiative operates in order to do its job successfully.
Now, given Houthi’s open hostility toward U.S. and Israeli vessels, adjustments or wider coalition coordination may be required to respond appropriately.
Analysts note that the Houthi declaration seeks both to dissuade Western intervention and demonstrate its solidarity with Iran and Gaza, as well as raise risks of retaliatory strikes such as Israel’s recent airstrikes targeting Houthi infrastructure such as Hodeidah port and Sanaa airport, among others. This raises risks of further conflict–Israel has responded with airstrikes targeting Houthi infrastructure including Hodeidah port and Sanaa airport
On the ground in Yemen, its impact will likely be profound. Yemen remains besieged by civil war, humanitarian collapse and mounting foreign involvement; with Houthi forces openly declaring war on two powerful militaries, any further confrontation threatens to increase civilian suffering caught between combatants.
As events play out, global maritime traffic could experience further disruptions as Houthi attacks on shipping increase. Furthermore, this declaration thrusts Yemen’s conflict from a localized proxy fight into direct warfare–no longer just maritime threats but official wartime posture against U.S. and Israeli interests.
Going forward, diplomatic and military actors will closely observe how the Pentagon or U.S.-led allies respond with new measures to counter Houthi aggression – just as Houthis have pledged their response against any US or Israeli action taken against Iran.