Yemen’s Houthi movement, also known as Ansar Allah, has threatened to close the Bab al-Mandeb Strait in support of Iran as the joint U.S.-Israeli offensive against Tehran enters its 16th day. Houthi military official Abed al-Thawr said on Saturday that if a decision for intervention is made, their first step could be to impose a naval blockade against the United States and Israel. Citing Press TV, he added that commercial ships, warships, and even aircraft carriers heading toward those countries could be detained.

Al-Thawr further stated that the Houthis are considering a complete closure of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait to all vessels bound for Israeli ports. The joint U.S.-Israeli operation against Iran began on February 28, targeting Tehran and several major Iranian cities. The White House claimed the strikes were aimed at neutralizing Iran’s potential missile and nuclear threats.

In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched counterattacks on Israeli facilities and U.S. bases in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Reports also claimed that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior officials were killed in the strikes.