Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
The Houthi group has confirmed that the suspension of its attacks against US interests in the region is conditional on an end to what it called “the aggression” against them, while simultaneously hinting at its ability to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait if the ongoing confrontations escalate.
The US network CNN reported on Monday, quoting prominent group leader Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, that they are committed to a ceasefire with the United States as long as Washington adheres to what he termed “ending its aggression.”
Al-Houthi added that his group’s position is based on “preventing the military use of the Red Sea against any Muslim country,” as he put it, affirming that the group possesses the necessary military capabilities to protect the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Regarding the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi linked the safety of oil ports on the Red Sea to Riyadh’s stance on the ongoing escalation.
Al-Houthi said there is “no intention” to target those ports – which Saudi Arabia currently relies on to bypass the Strait of Hormuz – as long as the Kingdom commits to de-escalation and does not “become complicit” with the United States and Israel in any attacks against the group.
These statements come at a time when the group hinted last week at the possibility of resorting to escalatory options, including closing the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
A group official had stated last week that this option “is on the table and feasible” if the war expands.
Regarding the nature of coordination with Iran, the Houthi leader claimed that his group’s decision to launch attacks against Israel was “a unilateral decision” and not at Tehran’s request, indicating that the military moves come within the framework of what he described as “confronting the Zionist scheme.”
