The Houthi group on Saturday escalated tensions by renewing threats to target American vessels in the Red Sea. This stern warning comes with a significant caveat: the Houthis say they'll strike if Washington intervenes militarily alongside its ally Israel in a burgeoning conflict with Iran. Across Yemen, there's growing alarm over the potential for devastating economic and humanitarian repercussions.
Yahya Sarea, the military spokesperson for the Iran-backed group, took to X to deliver the stark message. "In the event of America's involvement in an attack and aggression against Iran with the Israeli enemy," Sarea declared, "the armed forces will target its ships and warships in the Red Sea."

These Houthi threats follow recent statements from the US President, who on Thursday set a two-week deadline to decide on a potential US strike against Iran. On Friday, the President indicated that a decision could even be made sooner.
The escalating rhetoric is particularly unsettling for Yemen, a nation already reeling from years of conflict. Millions of Yemenis rely heavily on humanitarian aid, and many now fear that Houthi entanglement in a broader Iran-Israel conflict will severely worsen their already dire economic and humanitarian crisis.

Just last Wednesday, June 18, Yemen's Economic and Humanitarian Crisis Management Committee convened to address the rapidly evolving political, economic, service, and humanitarian landscape. A key focus of the meeting was the potential fallout from the Israeli-Iranian military escalation and its broad implications for Yemeni and regional security, as well as the daily lives of citizens.

Chaired by Rashad Al-Alimi, President of the Presidential Leadership Council, the committee, as reported by the official Saba news agency, received a critical assessment of the Israeli-Iranian war's developments. This included a stark look at its potential impact on regional and international peace and security, alongside a deep dive into Yemen's own security, economic, and humanitarian conditions.

During the session, the committee issued a strong warning to the Houthi group, cautioning it "against the continuation of dragging Yemen and its people into destructive regional conflicts." The committee went further, holding the Houthi group and its backers "fully responsible for the severe consequences and repercussions resulting from any additional reckless actions originating from Yemeni territory." They underscored the risk of plunging the country into deeper crises, including the increased militarization of vital waterways, threats to national food security, the erosion of dwindling livelihood opportunities, and a significant escalation of the Yemeni people's humanitarian suffering.