THE leader of the Iran-backed Houthi rebels has vowed to target American warships if President Biden orders missile strikes against its forces.
Militant leader Abdel-Malek al-Houthi also warned that US troops will face a warzone "harsher than Vietnam" if they dare step foot in Yemen.
Rebel chief al-Houthi said today: "We will not stand idly by if the Americans are tempted to escalate further and commit foolishness by targeting our country or waging war against it."
He continued in a televised speech: "Any American targeting of our country will be targeted by us.
"We will make American battleships, interests, and navigation a target for our missiles, drones, and military operations."
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It appears to be a direct response to claims that US President Joe Biden is drawing up plans to strike Houthi sites to put an end to the erupting chaos in the Red Sea.
Biden has moved the Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier to the Gulf of Aden, just off the coast of Yemen as he draws up plans to intervene directly against the group.
Yesterday, the US announced a naval task force of 10 countries - "Operation Prosperity Guardian" - which intends to gather a fleet of warships to restore order to the region.
Al-Houthi added: “If the American [President] sends his soldiers to Yemen, let him know that, God willing, he will face something harsher than what he faced in Afghanistan and what he suffered in Vietnam.”
The Iran-sponsored Houthis, who control most of Yemen, have spent weeks waging their own sideline war against Israel by attempting to strike any vessels coming to and from Israeli ports.
The group have pledged to continue their attacks until Israel stops its devastating bombardment and invasion of the Gaza Strip.
The rebels have launched more than 100 drone and missile attacks, targeting 10 merchant vessels, according to the Pentagon.
It has left £1trillion world trade at risk as the group unleashes hell on vessels in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.
They have particularly targeted vessels crossing the notorious 20-mile stretch of water dubbed the "Gate of Tears".
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which forms the strategic link between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean, has become increasingly impossible to navigate through.
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The US, UK, French Israeli Navy have all already sent warships into the increasingly troubled area in order to try to regain stability in the major shipping route.
However, the Houthi rebels appear to be undeterred as their attacks in the Red Sea continue.
A US defence official told The Telegraph: “We take the threat from the Houthis very seriously, but we’re not going to telegraph any movements in advance.
"US forces have the inherent right to self-defence, and if we do decide to take any action against the Houthis then we will do so at a time and place of our choosing.”
US military officials who are pushing for a direct strike are said to be squabbling with Pentagon advisers, who have warned that direct action risks inflaming tensions with Iran.
Over the weekend, a Royal Navy warship shot down an attack drone launched by the Houthis in the Red Sea.
HMS Diamond fired a Sea Viper missile to blast the kamikaze drone out of the sky - marking the first time the Royal Navy has fired air defence weapons in anger for more than 30 years.
The HMS Diamond was sent to steam through the Suez Canal in November in a show of force to Hamas-backers Iran.
It came only days after USS Carney, a US Navy guided missile destroyer, shot down 14 drones fired by the Iran-backed terror proxy.
It was at least the third time US warships have fired on Houthi missiles and drones since Hamas launched their October 7 massacre.
Last week, Israel dispatched one of its most powerful warships to the Red Sea.
The Israeli Navy's Sa’ar 6-class corvette has been declared operational and has joined the UK, French and US vessels already deployed.
