"We affirm that the finger is on the trigger, ready for direct military intervention," Yahya Saree, spokesperson for the Houthi armed group in Yemen, announced on 27/3.

Saree warned that the Houthi would act immediately if any country participated in the US-Israel campaign against Iran, or if the Red Sea was used for military operations against Tehran. However, the official did not specify the measures of action.

Yahya Saree, spokesperson for the Houthi forces in Yemen. Photo: AFP

The Houthi spokesperson also called for an immediate end to US-Israel attacks on Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, and Palestinian territories, while urging the implementation of a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.

The warning raises the risk of a wider Middle East conflict, especially given the Houthi's capability to strike targets beyond its borders and its history of disrupting shipping lanes around the Arabian Peninsula.

During the Gaza conflict in 2023-2024, the Houthi launched missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks on numerous oil and cargo ships in the Red Sea to show support for the Hamas armed group, forcing vessels to reroute around the distant Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. The group also launched missile attacks on Israel multiple times, from over 1,600 km away.

US President Donald Trump launched an airstrike campaign against Houthi targets in Yemen on 15/3/2025. Almost two months later, Trump announced a ceasefire agreement with the Houthi. The Yemeni armed group agreed to cease attacks on US vessels in the Red Sea, while Washington ended its airstrike campaign.

Location of the Red Sea, Strait of Hormuz. Graphic: Britannica

Despite reaching a ceasefire agreement with the US, the Houthi continued to attack Israel and Israeli-linked vessels in the Red Sea. The group only ceased attacks after the Trump administration facilitated a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip in 10/2025.

Nevertheless, many shipping companies remain concerned about using this route, resulting in Red Sea vessel traffic reaching only about 60% of previous levels. Observers recently voiced concerns about the Houthi's potential to intervene in the conflict and create a new energy choke point in the Red Sea, especially as the Strait of Hormuz is currently blockaded by Iran.

Thanh Tam (According to AFP, Reuters)