DUBAI, December 20. /TASS/. The Yemeni Ansar Allah (Houthi) rebels intend to attack American ships in the Red Sea, it the US attacks the movement, Ansar Allah leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said, according to Al Masirah.

"Any American attack on our country would lead to a response attack. We will turn US ships [in the Red Sea] […] into targets for our missiles and drones," al-Houthi said. "If the US sends its military to Yemen, […] they will face more severe [consequences] than they did in Afghanistan and Vietnam," he added.

After the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the Gaza Strip, the Houthis claimed that they will carry out strikes at Israeli territory and will not allow Israel-affiliated ships to pass through the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait until the operation in the Palestinian enclave ends. Since mid-November, several commercial and military ships in the Red Sea were attacked from the territory, controlled by Ansar Allah. In addition, the Houthis captured the Galaxy Leader cargo ship with a crew of 20.

In response, the US announced the establishment of an international coalition and the preparation of an operation on ensuring the freedom of navigation and protection of ships in the Red Sea. The coalition should include Bahrain, the UK, Spain, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, the Seychelles and France. Meanwhile, Houthi spokesman Mohammad Abdel Salam told TASS that the establishment of the coalition will not affect the movement’s decision to attack Israeli-affiliated ships.