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By Amira El-Fekki
Middle East News Reporter
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The head of the Houthi-run Supreme Political Council, Mahdi al-Mashat, threatened further escalation against the United States in response to intensified airstrikes on Houthi strongholds in Yemen and the growing deployment of American weaponry in the region.
Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) for comment.
Why It Matters
The comments underscore an escalation in the Red Sea conflict and raise questions over the effectiveness of U.S. military pressure in deterring the Iran-backed Houthis—who threaten a vital global shipping route. President Donald Trump ordered airstrikes against them last month.
Read More on World
The U.S. has recently expanded its military footprint across the Middle East in response to rising tensions with Iran, Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, and the Gaza conflict—deploying missile defenses, bombers, carriers, and strike groups from the Red Sea to Diego Garcia.
What To Know
"If the American escalates further, it means his weapons have failed and he's just offering more targets," Mashat said in a televised speech Sunday evening, dressed in military attire following a top-level military meeting. "Trump may have thought it would be a leisurely affair, but he landed in a strategic quagmire called Yemen."
The Houthis claimed attacks on two U.S. military aircraft as well as the shooting down of U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones and the bypassing of advanced electronic warfare systems. U.S. officials have not commented on those claims.
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The U.S. launched a fresh wave of airstrikes on Sana'a, Hudeidah, and other regions last week, including a major raid on Ras Isa fuel port. Washington said the strikes destroyed key targets and killed dozens of Houthi fighters. Houthi media said there were dozens of civilian casualties.
Mashat said the group had avoided major losses thanks to intelligence gathered before the attacks. He did not identify the source or which operations. The U.S. recently accused China of providing satellite imagery to the Houthis—an allegation Beijing has denied.
The Houthis say they are acting in solidarity with Hamas, which has been fighting Israel forces in the Gaza Strip after launching an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Since then, the Iran-backed Houthis have launched over a hundred missile strikes on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, particularly those linked to Israel.
Mashat also made references to regional U.S. allies such as Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates with warnings not to join the fight. The UAE and Saudi Arabia were key players in a 2015 coalition that fought the Houthis.
In April, CENTCOM Commander Gen. Michael Kurilla held high-level meetings in Israel, Jordan, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen to discuss ongoing operations against the Houthis, according to an official statement.
What People Are Saying
Mahdi al-Mashat, head of the Houthi-run Supreme Political Council: "Trump may have thought it would be a leisurely affair, but he landed in a strategic quagmire called Yemen. Trump burned all of America's cards — its aircraft carriers, strategic bombers, and the electromagnetic system."
U.S. State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce on Wednesday: "I think many people have seen the reports regarding actions that may or may not be happening on the ground in Yemen as the Houthis' ability to resist is degraded."
What Happens Next
The conflict in Yemen looks set to escalate further with the possibility of Yemeni forces involved on the ground in fighting the Houthis.
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