The U.S. fears the Houthis will enter the war with Iran — WSJ
The United States, together with its partners in the Middle East, has stepped up monitoring of the activities of Yemeni Houthi militants due to the risk of their direct involvement in the conflict on Iran’s side.
Western intelligence agencies fear that this group could become a key tool for Tehran to destabilize the region and the global economy.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the Houthis have effectively paralyzed civilian shipping in the Red Sea for nearly two years.
Recently, the militants have significantly escalated their aggressive rhetoric, prompting U.S. and Israeli officials to move to a state of heightened alert.
Although active hostilities on their part have not yet begun, the group remains a powerful lever of influence in the hands of the Iranian leadership.
Experts note that Tehran could use this resource to exert pressure on global markets or launch attacks on strategic targets.
Potential targets for strikes include Saudi Arabian territory, as well as U.S. military infrastructure, particularly the base in Djibouti.
Such a turn of events could trigger a large-scale escalation that would go far beyond a local conflict.
Currently, the militants are refraining from direct involvement in a major war, but their leaders openly declare their readiness to intervene at any moment.
“The Houthis are refraining from entering the conflict for now, but have made it clear that they can intervene at any moment,” the publication’s analysts emphasize.
Saudi Arabia plays a distinct role in containing the conflict, attempting to preserve fragile stability through diplomatic means.
Saudi officials point out that “the kingdom has an agreement with the Houthis, signed in 2022, stipulating that they will not attack its territory or ships.”
Washington and Jerusalem, for their part, are acting with extreme caution so as not to provoke the militants into unpredictable actions.
As an American official stated: “The U.S. and Israel are trying to avoid any provocations that could draw in the Houthis and further complicate the conflict.”
As a reminder, the U.S. is not yet deploying troops to the Middle East.
The U.S. has also completed preparations for a ground operation in Iran.
