While it is rumored that it is in the interest of both Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement for a truce in Gaza, the Houthis are expanding their attacks and tension is rising in the Red Sea. One of Yemen’s rebel spokespersons revealed that the group is ready and “committed to assist Iran or its allies in the region (referring to Iranian-backed groups and militias) in case the conflict with Israel turns into a a global regional war”. The deputy media secretary of the Houthi group, Nasr al-Din Amer, confirmed that the latter “is committed to defending his allies in the resistance axis”. He also explained that “the group will take on a leadership role should a global conflict erupt to defend its allies in the resistance axis,” referring to Iranian-backed militias and armed factions, whether in Iraq, Syria or Lebanon. . He then added that “even if it is one of the countries with which we do not agree, we will never leave it alone”.
The Shiite leader said: “When it comes to those with whom we are allied, such as Iran and other parties of the resistance axis, we will definitely stand by them with all strength and determination.” These statements came just days after Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi threatened to expand his attacks into both the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. Meanwhile, the Iranian Foreign Minister, Amir Hossein Abdollahian, has launched an appeal to all the countries of the Persian Gulf to collaborate to guarantee the safety of navigation in an area whose stability “is at risk due to foreign militaries”. “Interference by third countries, which have a superficial knowledge of reality, has brought neither stability nor security, on the contrary it has increased risks and divergences,” Abdollahian said. Tehran’s head of diplomacy, on the occasion of the International Day of the Persian Gulf, relaunched cooperation between states that counteract Western naval missions in the area. “The security of this area, which connects Asia, Europe, Africa and Southeast Asia, is crucial from a strategic point of view for the passage from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean. Iran is ready to make all possible efforts to guarantee security and stability now put at risk by the presence of foreign militaries”, he concluded.
