On August 7, a spokesman for Yemen's Ansarullah (Houthi) movement, Yahya Saree, declared the group is ready to broaden the scope of confrontation if the Saudi-led military coalition escalates attacks on Houthi-controlled areas.
In a statement carried by local media, Saree stressed that Ansarullah will respond to any aggression with proportionate measures, including targeting military and oil facilities in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The remarks come amid rising tensions after the Saudi-led coalition launched airstrikes on the Houthi-held capital Sanaa and several other provinces, killing and wounding numerous civilians.
Previously, Ansarullah has repeatedly warned it would attack ships linked to Israel in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean to show support for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Analysts say the risk of a wider conflict in the Middle East is growing, especially as the parties continue to trade harsh military actions and threats.
