The Huthi rebels in Yemen, who have received support from Iran and have fired drones and missiles at cargo ships in the Red Sea, issued a warning on Wednesday threatening to retaliate if US forces attacked them.
Rebel leader Abdel-Malek al-Huthi declared, “We will target the Americans if they intend to escalate further, get more involved, and commit foolishness by targeting our country.”
“We will make American battleships, American interests and American navigation a target for our missiles and drones,” he said in a speech broadcast on the rebel’s Al-Masirah television.
His remarks followed the announcement by the US that it was assembling an international naval task force to defend ships passing through the Red Sea against Huthi attacks, which are carried out in support of the Palestinians in Gaza.
A representative of the US Navy has announced that the US aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower has arrived in the Gulf of Aden.
According to the Pentagon, the rebels have attacked ten merchant vessels with more than 100 drone and missile strikes, originating from the poorest nation on the Arabian Peninsula.
According to the Huthis, Israel and the militant organization Hamas have been fighting in Gaza since October 7, and they are supporting the Palestinians in this conflict by attacking passing container ships.
