The Houthi insurgent group has issued a warning stating they will target United States naval vessels

Yemen’s top Houthi rebel leader has issued a warning to target American warships in the event of any assaults on Yemen. This threat came just a day after the U.S. revealed plans for a new global coalition dedicated to safeguarding ships navigating the Red Sea.

The Houthi rebels, supported by Iran, have been launching attacks on ships in the Red Sea using drones and ballistic missiles for several weeks. They claim these actions are in retaliation against Israel’s military operations in Gaza, although the connection between Israel and the commercial vessels targeted by the Shia group appears increasingly weak.

Abdel Malek al-Houthi, in a lengthy address, criticized the U.S. for attempting to militarize the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, asserting that this could escalate the region into a conflict zone.

The U.S., under Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, announced on Tuesday the formation of a new international alliance to ensure the safety of maritime travel through the Red Sea. This coalition includes the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain. Notably, Bahrain, which does not border the Red Sea, is the only Arab nation in the group. The operational details of this maritime security mission remain largely undisclosed.

Additionally, the rebel leader accused unnamed Arab nations of intercepting missiles the Houthis had aimed at Israel.

The Houthis currently control Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, several northern provinces along the Saudi border, and key areas in the western highlands and along the Red Sea coast.