Yemeni government warns of 'serious consequences' from Houthi military intervention in support of Iran

SANAA, Yemen

The Yemeni government warned on Saturday of "serious consequences" from military intervention by the Houthi group in support of Iran amid ongoing regional hostilities.

The repercussions for Yemen include endangering national security, disrupting supply chains, and increasing food and energy prices, the government said in a statement, according to the official Saba News Agency.

The statement came after the Houthis announced earlier Saturday their first ballistic missile strike on military targets in southern Israel.

"The decision of war and peace is an exclusive sovereign right of the Yemeni state and its constitutional institutions, and any military actions outside this framework are considered unlawful acts of aggression, with full responsibility borne by their perpetrators and supporters," it said.

The government also said it "will not hesitate to fulfill its responsibilities" to protect civilians, safeguard national sovereignty, and prevent Yemen from being used to threaten regional or international security.

It also urged the global community "to take a firm stance against repeated Iranian violations of Yemeni sovereignty" and "exert maximum pressure on the terrorist Houthi militias."

The statement also called for backing the Yemeni government's efforts to assert its authority over the entire national territory.

The development amid the US and Israeli air offensive on Iran that began on Feb. 28, so far killing over 1,340 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Iran has responded with drone and missile attacks targeting Israel, as well as Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military bases, causing casualties, infrastructure damage, and disruption to global markets and aviation.

*Writing by Serdar Dincel in Istanbul