Houthis threaten escalation in the Red Sea if Iran is targeted
January 28, 2026 at 9:46 am
A screen grab captured from a video shows that cargo ship “Galaxy Leader”, co-owned by an Israeli company, being hijacked by Iran-backed Houthis from Yemen in the Red Sea on November 20, 2023 [Houthis Media Center – Anadolu Agency]
Amid the beating drums of war in the region, the Houthi militia in Yemen has begun intensive military and field movements, threatening direct involvement in the conflict in support of Iran should it come under US military attack.
These moves come at a time when Gulf waters are witnessing unprecedented military buildups, with the US aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, accompanied by guided-missile destroyers, entering the region.
According to a report by Associated Press on Monday, Iran-backed militias in both Yemen and Iraq have threatened to launch new amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran following US President Donald Trump’s threat to take military action over Tehran’s crackdown on domestic protests.
In recent days, the Houthi militia launched at least three missiles from Taiz governorate toward the Red Sea, amid assessments suggesting the launches were part of military exercises.
In the same context, a video documented with geographic coordinates showed a missile-like object flying over the coastal Ras Al-Ara area overlooking the Gulf of Aden. Those who filmed the footage reported hearing a loud, continuous buzzing sound as the object passed, suggesting the use of a jet engine operating at low altitude.
The Basha Report Foundation stated that, based on analysis of the sound and the apparent flight path in the recording, the missile is likely a Quds or Sayyad anti-ship missile—cruise missiles previously used by the Houthis to target maritime navigation.
This development comes amid rising military tensions in regional waterways, as any missile activity near the Red Sea or the Gulf of Aden raises growing concerns about the security and safety of international shipping lanes.
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These preparations coincide with reports indicating that Houthi leaders have received instructions from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to raise combat readiness and activate offensive options targeting international shipping lines in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
On the ground, the militia has carried out widespread recruitment operations in recent days, including the graduation of new military batches from training camps described as a support force for upcoming confrontations.
These movements have been accompanied by escalating media rhetoric on the militia-run Al-Masirah channel, which launched sharp attacks against the Presidential Leadership Council and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, considering political moves in southern and eastern Yemen—including the anticipated Southern Consultative Meeting in Riyadh—as part of an international plan aimed at weakening its position.
In a blunt statement reflecting the extent of strategic alignment, the militia’s spokesperson affirmed their support for any country subjected to what he termed “aggression” should it choose to confront US pressure, warning that any attack on Iran would turn all US ships and interests in the region into legitimate targets.
Middle East researcher Fatima Abu Asrar believes that the Houthis’ announcement of what they call a “Red Sea missile” sends a clear message that Tehran possesses pressure tools through its proxies.
In an analysis posted on the X platform, Abu Asrar said the message is directed squarely at Washington and its regional partners: any military pressure on Tehran would turn the Red Sea into a flashpoint for escalation.
Yemeni observers believe the Houthis’ decision to attack appears almost certain if a direct confrontation erupts between Washington and Tehran. As the region awaits a potential zero hour with the arrival of US fleets, the Iranian regime seeks to use its regional arms—chief among them the Houthi militia in Yemen—as a first line of defence to disperse US military power and ease pressure on Iran’s domestic front.
This escalation places Yemen’s already-stalled peace process under severe strain, as the international community fears the Yemeni file could become merely a bargaining chip or an alternative arena for major regional conflicts—further compounding the suffering of millions of Yemenis who anxiously await the outcomes of these tensions in international shipping lanes near their coasts.
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