In parallel with U.S. military operations in Yemen, the Pentagon has issued warnings to Iraqi “resistance” factions against any activity or intervention, conveyed through a call received by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani. While observers have warned against any intervention alongside the Houthis, they emphasized that President Donald Trump’s administration is eager to respond even to “verbal threats” against U.S. interests anywhere. However, an armed faction ruled out any immediate “provocation” by the U.S., warning of retaliation should such provocation occur in Iraq.
Ghazi Faisal, Director of the Iraqi Center for Strategic Studies, told Al-Aalam Al-Jadeed that “the call from the U.S. Secretary of Defense and his warnings to Al-Sudani regarding armed factions come due to expectations that Iraqi factions may participate in Yemen, similar to their previous engagements in military operations in Syria, Lebanon, and other areas.”
Media outlets reported from various sources on Monday that U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth delivered a strongly worded warning to Al-Sudani during their call on Sunday evening.
Faisal added, “The United States has now entered a direct war in Yemen, as it is one of Iran’s external theaters of military operations and a strategically important location for controlling the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Red Sea, the Arabian Gulf, and the Suez Canal. All of these are strategic objectives for Iran’s military, logistical, and financial support. These vital waterways must not be disrupted under international law.”
Faisal considers “the U.S. war against the Houthis in Yemen as a threat to Iran’s Supreme Leader and the Iranian regime, demanding they halt their support for the Houthis and cease military operations against energy trade routes and other targets, including attacks on U.S. warships and aircraft. These activities challenge the U.S. and could provoke a large-scale American response extending from Yemen to Iran, possibly targeting its nuclear reactors.”
Regarding the factions, Faisal pointed out that “they have previously participated in similar wars, and there is a possibility they might engage in a new war. That is why the U.S. Secretary of Defense’s request is fundamentally aimed at deterring these factions and preventing them from heading to Yemen or targeting U.S. interests and bases in Iraq, Syria, and the Arabian Gulf. There are 45 U.S. military bases in the region, and if the factions decide to target them, they represent vital targets.”
The director of the Iraqi Center for Strategic Studies concluded that “the U.S. war in Yemen aims to eliminate and dismantle Houthi leadership, similar to what happened with Hezbollah in Lebanon, which lost over 500 elite leaders. The American strategy in Yemen seeks to dismantle the Houthis’ military and political capabilities and establish a new civilian system under U.S. vision.”
Media outlets cited “sources” stating that “Hegseth informed Al-Sudani that any involvement of Iraqi armed factions in response to U.S. attacks on the Houthis in Yemen would prompt a swift military response from Washington against those factions inside Iraq. Therefore, they must be prevented from intervening, as previously seen in the wars in Lebanon and Gaza.”
The sources added that “the U.S. Secretary of Defense urged Al-Sudani to expedite efforts to disarm and dismantle the armed factions, emphasizing that this issue is a major priority for President Trump and his administration. Al-Sudani reportedly assured him that the government is working on this and is engaged in discussions with the armed factions to reach an agreement.”
According to the official statement, the Prime Minister discussed security developments in the region with the U.S. Secretary of Defense, particularly the military operations in Yemen and the “concerning” situation in Syria.
Meanwhile, political analyst Aqil Abbas told Al-Aalam Al-Jadeed that “the call from the U.S. Secretary of Defense to Al-Sudani came after the U.S. airstrikes on the Houthis. It clearly carries a warning to the resistance factions against cooperating with the Houthis, as they have previously participated in joint operations under the principle of ‘unity of battlefronts.’ The warning is clear: if support resumes, the U.S. will single out and eliminate Iraqi factions one by one. This is the message conveyed by the Secretary of Defense.”
Regarding the manner and extent of potential attacks on factions in Iraq, Abbas does not believe that “the U.S. administration will immediately launch strikes against factions similar to those in Yemen unless these factions first take some action against U.S. interests.”
The political analyst believes that “Trump’s new administration is very eager for this war. As soon as the Houthis threatened airstrikes, a military operation against them was launched.” He warned that “the same will happen to any Iraqi faction that tries to threaten the U.S. and its interests, as the American response is ready.”
Abbas noted that “the current American threats and the overall situation put the factions in a difficult position. They must avoid provocative actions against Trump’s administration. Here, provocation does not only refer to actions, as was the case before, but even verbal threats will invite a strong response.”
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated on Monday that U.S. Central Command has launched a series of operations, including precise strikes against Iranian-backed Houthi targets across Yemen. He emphasized that these operations aim to “restore freedom of navigation and reinforce American deterrence.”
The Yemeni conflict has witnessed unprecedented military escalation following U.S. airstrikes on Houthi positions in multiple Yemeni provinces. The death toll from U.S. strikes on the Houthis in Yemen has risen to 53, according to a new and final count announced by the Houthi-controlled Ministry of Health on Sunday.
On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that “any further attack or retaliation from the Houthis will be met with great force.” In a post on Truth Social, he wrote: “No one should be fooled! The hundreds of attacks by the Houthis—the evil gangsters and thugs based in Yemen, who are hated by the Yemeni people—are all backed and orchestrated by Iran.”
Meanwhile, Firas Al-Yasser, a political bureau member of the Harakat al-Nujaba movement, told Al-Aalam Al-Jadeed that “what the U.S. is doing in Yemen through bombing operations is outrageous and unacceptable. It exposes the true face of those who bombed Gaza, which requires an international and European response to this war.”
Al-Yasser warned that “America’s targeting of Yemen will have serious repercussions on the region. Yemen’s geography is sensitive and influential, with highly advanced and significant military capabilities—acknowledged even by the U.S. and Israel. Therefore, the recent American targeting of Yemenis will not go unanswered.” He pointed out that “Yemen’s terrain is difficult, and the Houthis possess advanced military capabilities. If the U.S. continues its attempts to subjugate them, it will open multiple battlefronts, potentially dragging Gulf states into the war.”
Regarding the U.S. Secretary of State’s call to Al-Sudani, he responded: “We do not have precise information on the content of that call or whether it contained threats or warnings.” He emphasized that “there is a united spirit and coordination among all resistance movements, as the U.S. does not target one nation over another—it seeks to subjugate the entire region under its domination, using gangster-like tactics, as seen in Palestine and the genocide suffered by its people.”
Although he downplayed the likelihood of “immediate American provocations against Iraqi factions in Iraq,” he accused “the U.S. and Israel of initiating provocations and igniting tensions in the region, as evidenced by recent events in Syria.” He warned that “any provocation against factions in Iraq will be met with a strong response, as this is a natural right in defense of oneself and the Iraqi people.”
Since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas on October 7, 2023, the Houthis—who control vast territories in Yemen—have been attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea, focusing their operations near the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait in southern Yemen. They primarily target vessels they claim are linked to Israel or heading toward Israeli ports.
