A Houthi official warned Monday that the United States would face a "swift, painful response" if it entered the war in Yemen, according to multiple reports.
The warning comes as Saudi Arabia has reportedly requested American military involvement in the conflict. The Iran-backed Houthis have significantly expanded their territorial control in recent weeks, capturing Yemen's Red Sea coast from the internationally recognised government following a week-long offensive that concluded September 11.
The Houthi seizure of the Red Sea coast has strengthened their grip on the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical shipping route for Saudi Arabian oil exports. The strategic importance of the strait has increased amid the ongoing US-Iran war, during which the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.
The offensive that secured the Houthis' coastal position resulted in the release of approximately 210 prisoners held by Yemen's Saudi-backed government forces. The prisoners were freed following the week-long military campaign that concluded with the Houthis' capture of the Red Sea territory.