Houthi Movement Chief Says Ready to Respond to American Intervention in Gaza
The Ansar Allah Houthi group chief Abdulmalek Al-Houthi said Tuesday he would intervene in the Gaza-Israel conflict if the United States intervenes.
He said his group would respond to any US intervention in Gaza with drones, missiles, and other military options.
He pointed out that the group was ready to coordinate intervention with other members of the "Axis of Resistance," which includes Iran-backed Muslim factions in Iraq and Lebanon's Hezbollah group, which had armed clashes with Israel over the past years.
Al-Houthi added, "We wished that we were next to Palestine, and if that were possible for us, our people would have volunteered hundreds of thousands of fighters to defend Palestine."
In Iraq, Iran-backed groups also threatened to attack US targets if it intervened. Hadi Al-Amiri, the head of the Badr Organization, a Shi'ite political group supported by Iran, said during a tribal gathering on Monday, "If they intervene, we will intervene...If the Americans intervened openly in this conflict..., we will consider all American targets legitimate..., and we will not hesitate to target it."
The conflict began on October 6, leaving at least 2,000 dead from both sides, besides thousands of injuries. It remains unclear when this war will end; other groups or states may be involved in it in the coming days. However, the US has warned against capitalizing on this conflict.
On Tuesday, President Joe Biden warned in an address to the nation, saying, "So, in this moment, we must be crystal clear. We stand with Israel. Let me say again to any country, any organization, anyone thinking of taking advantage of this situation, I have one word. Don't. Don't!"
The first plane carrying US armaments landed in Israel Tuesday evening, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.
A US aircraft carrier was sent toward Israel, and it arrived yesterday, the Pentagon announced. The USS Gerald R. Ford, an aircraft carrier, and its accompanying ships were operating in the Mediterranean when the Biden administration directed them toward the Middle East after Hamas attacked Israel on Saturday.
