Houthis Break Silence on Iran War: "We Will Join the Battle if the Situation Changes"
The Houthi rebels in Yemen have remained outside the direct conflict in Iran, so far. A senior official tells Reuters that while Iran is currently "defeating the enemy," the Houthis are in full military readiness and prepared to join the campaign at a moment's notice.
While Hezbollah and Shiite militias in Iraq have been deeply involved in the current regional conflict, the Houthi rebels in Yemen have remained largely on the sidelines of the direct war in Iran, until now. In a new statement, the group claims their absence from the battlefield is a matter of strategy, not capability.
The Houthis explained that their direct intervention hasn't been necessary because, in their view, the Iranian regime is already succeeding.
"So far, Iran is functioning well and defeating the enemy every day. The battle continues in this direction," a senior official in the terror organization told Reuters. "If things change, we are prepared to join."
Despite their current restraint, the Houthis emphasized that they are closely monitoring the situation in coordination with Tehran.
"We stand in full military readiness, prepared for all possibilities," the official added. "We are following the situation, and if required, we will act at the right moment in coordination with the [Iranian] leadership."
While the Houthis have issued numerous threats since the start of the conflict, they have not yet launched a large-scale campaign integrated with the broader Shiite axis. Analysts suggest this "wait-and-see" approach may be due to the heavy international naval presence in the Red Sea or a directive from Tehran to keep the Yemeni front as a "reserve" force.