A military adviser for Yemen's Houthis said the group would target U.S. interests in West Asia if Washington intervenes in Yemen's conflict in support of Saudi Arabia or tries to unblock the Bab al-Mandab strait. The adviser, Abed Mohammed al-Thawr, made the statement in an interview on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. He said: "If America dares to intervene militarily with its fleets or tries to take control of Bab al-Mandab, it is a red line for them and anyone else... we will fight over it." The Houthis, described as Iran-backed, seized control of the narrow shipping lane, the gateway to the Red Sea, this month. Saudi Arabia has reportedly requested American and international military assistance against them. The report says the Houthi blockade has shaken Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter.