Sanaa (South24)

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The leader of the Yemeni Houthi militia, Abdulmalik al-Houthi, warned today that his forces would target American battleships in the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Gulf of Aden in the event of any attack against Yemen by Washington.

In a video speech broadcast on Al-Masirah TV, Al-Houthi said the Iran-backed militia’s naval operations will continue targeting Israeli ships or those linked to Israel, in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

"The Americans formed the recently announced coalition to defend Israel. They want to involve other countries in the war with them," he added.

“We warn the Americans that they will face a tougher and harsher confrontation in Yemen than they faced in Afghanistan and Vietnam if they enter into a direct war with us. We will never back down from our naval operations,” he added.

Al-Houthi said that the Houthis were seeking to develop their military capabilities over the coming days, to increase the level of attacks against Israel. He added: “The Arab countries surrounding us are opposing our missiles and drones targeting the Israeli enemy.”

He implicitly warned Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which did not participate in the recent US-led coalition, against participating in the coalition’s operations. He said: "Arab countries should not partner with America because we will target everyone."

Al-Houthi stipulated that to prevent further attacks by the Houthis, the war in Gaza must end and aid must be brought to the besieged strip of land. The recent attacks have led to a partial paralysis of the worldwide economy due to Bab al-Mandab's status as a crucial maritime passage. 

The leader’s speech came in response to US Secretary of Defense Austin Lloyd announcing on Monday the formation of a multinational international coalition to protect international navigation in the Red Sea.

Related: US forms coalition as Houthis vow continued attacks 

The coalition includes the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain.