On Thursday, Yemen’s Houthi rebels announced their readiness to align with Iran in opposition to the United States and Israel, hinting at the possibility of opening a new conflict along the Red Sea, a vital artery for international trade.

The Houthi group, which receives support from Iran, expressed its willingness to engage if necessary, following Tehran’s warning that hostilities could extend to the Bab al-Mandab Strait in the event of a U.S. ground invasion.

A Houthi leader conveyed to Reuters, “We are fully prepared militarily with all options on the table,” indicating potential coordination with Iran.

The leader further remarked, “So far, Iran is performing well, defeating the adversary daily, and the battle seems to favor them. Should the situation change, we will reassess our position.”

The involvement of the Houthis in the conflict poses a direct threat to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a strategically significant 20-mile-wide channel located southwest of Yemen, where the rebel group is based.

The Houthis have previously engaged in conflicts in this region, demonstrating their support during the Israel-Hamas war by targeting this critical maritime passage connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.

The rebel attacks sowed chaos and disruptions at the key trade route between Europe and and Asia where $1 trillion worth of goods pass through every year.  

Any attacks along the strait would further risk shipments coming out of Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest exporter of oil, which has been redirecting its barrels through the Red Sea following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran issued a direct threat to take the Bab al-Mandab Strait on Wednesday if the US were to escalate the war by invading the Kharg Island.

“The Bab al-Mandab Strait is considered one of the world’s strategic straits, and Iran has both the will and the ability to create a completely credible threat against it,” Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps sources told the Tasnim News Agency.

Tehran and Washington have continued to trade threats as thousands of US soldiers are being deployed to the Middle East, with President Trump refusing to rule out a ground invasion of Iran.

With Post wires