Iran Affirms Houthis’ Independent Decision-Making Amid US Tensions

The IRGC commander, Hossein Salami, declared that Yemen’s Houthis make independent strategic decisions, following US President Trump’s call to cease Iranian support. Recent US-UK airstrikes resulted in significant casualties among Houthis, linked to their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea amid ongoing conflicts involving Israel and Gaza.

On Sunday, the commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hossein Salami, asserted that the Houthi group in Yemen operates autonomously in its strategic decision-making. His remarks came in response to US President Donald Trump’s demand for Iran to cease its support for the Houthis. Salami emphasized that Yemen is an independent nation with its own policy framework and stated, “The Houthis, as representatives of the Yemeni people, make their own strategic and operational decisions.”

In related developments, recent US-UK airstrikes targeting Houthi positions in Yemen resulted in at least 31 fatalities and left 101 individuals injured, as reported by the Houthi-run Health Ministry. These military actions were executed following Trump’s directive for a significant strike against Houthi forces, prompted by assaults on shipping routes in the Red Sea.

This incident marked the first US strikes in Yemen since the establishment of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in January. The Houthis have intensified their missile and drone strikes on Israeli-affiliated vessels in the Red Sea since late 2023, asserting that these actions demonstrate solidarity with the Gaza Strip, thereby impacting global trade.

In summary, the IRGC commander asserts the Houthis’ autonomy in Yemen, countering US claims of external influence. The recent US-UK airstrikes represent a significant escalation in military actions following Houthi attacks on Israeli-linked ships. This situation underscores the complexity of regional geopolitics and the ongoing conflict in Yemen, particularly regarding the Houthis’ declared solidarity with Gaza.

Original Source: www.yenisafak.com