Houthi Rebels Threaten Multi-Front War Over Saudi Blockade

The Houthi rebels in Yemen are warning countries against joining Saudi Arabia in the country's growing civil war. A senior official from the Iran-backed group, Mohamed al-Bukhaiti, said that his organization has assured the US administration it won't attack American vessels in the Red Sea.

Al-Bukhaiti stated that the Houthis have the capacity to fight a war on multiple fronts if any nation becomes involved alongside Saudi Arabia. He also emphasized that their goal is not to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, but rather to ensure freedom of navigation for everyone through it.

The Houthi rebels claimed they can continue to fight and have the upper hand in the conflict. Al-Bukhaiti attributed the latest escalation of violence to Saudi Arabia's decade-long blockade on rebel-held areas in Yemen and its refusal to allow vessels to reach Houthi-controlled ports on the Red Sea.

The Houthis declared a blockade on Saudi shipping in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea, attacking Saudi-linked vessels and oil facilities inside the kingdom. The rebels believe power has shifted in their favor after seizing key Red Sea islands that allow them to monitor shipping traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb.