Political Bureau member of the Ansar Allah movement (the Houthis), Ali Al-Qahoum, has issued a warning that hostile actions against Yemen will have grave consequences and carry a hefty cost. This statement comes at a time when Israel and the United States are considering a response to the Houthi group’s targeting of commercial ships headed toward Israeli ports.
Al-Qahoum emphasized that “the Palestinian issue is our compass, and we will not abandon it regardless of any threats or gestures from the United States, the West, or Israel,” adding that operations against Israel will continue. He reaffirmed Yemen’s readiness with all defensive options to respond to any “hostile American-Israeli-Western movements.”
Furthermore, Al-Qahoum clarified that “Yemen is a concerned partner in protecting international maritime navigation according to international laws and norms.” The US military previously reported that attacks launched from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen struck two ships flying the Liberian flag in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The Houthi group claimed they attacked two Red Sea vessels that were en route to Israel, as part of their response to the ongoing Israeli aggression against Gaza that has resulted in around 19,000 Palestinian casualties, mostly women and children.
The movement has previously attacked Israeli ships, directing some of them to Yemeni ports. Later, the group announced a strategy aimed at preventing cargo ships from reaching Israel, regardless of the vessel’s nationality or managing entity. The Houthi group has vowed to continue these measures until Israel allows the entry of food and medicine into the Gaza Strip.
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**Houthi Official: Ready to Respond to Israeli or US Attacks**
Ali Al-Qahoum, a representative of the Houthi movement’s political wing, has declared that any aggressive maneuver against Yemen is bound to result in dire repercussions and substantial costs. This declaration coincides with ongoing deliberations by Israel and the United States on how to counter the Houthi faction’s recent engagements with commercial vessels steering towards Israeli docks.
Al-Qahoum has reiterated the centrality of the Palestinian plight to their cause, stating, “The Palestinian issue is the guidepost that we will not desert, no matter the magnitude or nature of intimidation from American, Western, or Israeli fronts.” He added that their operations targeting Israel are set to persist. He underscored Yemen’s preparedness to field all defensive options for countering what he refers to as “antagonistic American-Israeli-Western incursions.”
Al-Qahoum also highlighted Yemen’s role as a stakeholder in the safeguarding of international maritime channels, operating within the framework of global legislation and customary practices. The United States military had previously noted that assaults originating from territories under Houthi control struck two Liberian-flagged ships in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The Houthis admitted to attacking two Red Sea vessels destined for Israel as part of their reprisal for the continuous Israeli onslaughts on Gaza, which have led to approximately 19,000 Palestinian fatalities, predominantly among women and children.
Previously, the group has launched offensives on Israeli vessels and redirected some towards Yemeni harbors. Subsequently, the Houthis announced an embargo strategy to halt shipping vessels from docking in Israel, irrespective of the ships’ national affiliation or administrative body. The Houthis are resolute in sustaining these actions until Israel permits the import of essential foodstuffs and medicinal provisions into the Gaza Strip.
