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Iran is reportedly urging the Yemen-based Houthis to prepare for renewed attacks on shipping in the Red Sea if the United States escalates its conflict with Tehran, according to European officials cited by Bloomberg.
The Houthis, an Iran-backed group, have already demonstrated their regional capabilities by launching ballistic missiles toward Israel in recent weeks.
Officials have indicated that the group is considering more aggressive actions, but internal divisions have slowed decision-making regarding the extent of the escalation.
These leadership disputes have been cited as a reason the Houthis entered the conflict only weeks after it began.
In a statement over the weekend, the Houthis pledged to continue their military operations until U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and its allies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, cease. However, the group did not explicitly threaten commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
U.S. and Saudi officials have reportedly informed European allies that the Houthis are currently trying to avoid further escalation, particularly regarding attacks on American and Saudi targets. Nevertheless, officials have warned that the longer the war continues, the more likely the Houthis are to target shipping routes in the Red Sea.
One European official pointed out that any attempt by the United States to seize Kharg Island, a key Iranian oil export hub, could prompt the Houthis to expand their operations.
The Red Sea is a critical route for global energy supplies, especially for oil shipments from Saudi Arabia and Iraq to Europe and Asia. Disruption of this key juncture could force shipping to take longer, more expensive routes via the Cape of Good Hope, with immediate repercussions for global oil markets.
This situation highlights the delicate balance facing regional powers as they must weigh the risks of escalation against the strategic leverage provided by proxy groups like the Houthis.
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