In a televised speech on Wednesday, Abdel-Malek al-Houthi, the leader of Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels, issued a strong warning against any American targeting of Yemen, stating that such actions would be met with retaliation. The warning comes as the United States leads a multinational effort to safeguard commercial ships from Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.

The escalating tensions prompted Greece to announce on Thursday its decision to deploy a naval frigate to the region, joining Operation Prosperity Guardian, an initiative aimed at ensuring the protection of merchant ships and the preservation of global economic stability, according to Reuters.

Al-Houthi proclaimed, "We will not stand idly by if the Americans are tempted to escalate further and commit foolishness by targeting our country or waging war against it." He emphasized that any American targeting of Yemen would prompt retaliatory measures, making American battleships, interests, and navigation potential targets for the rebels' missiles, drones, and military operations.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin expressed concern over the recent surge of Houthi attacks emanating from Yemen, emphasizing that these brazen actions not only pose a threat to international law but also endanger innocent maritime travelers and impede the free flow of commerce. He further explained that Operation Prosperity Guardian aims to unite multiple nations, including the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain, to collectively address security challenges in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The operation's overarching goal is to guarantee freedom of navigation for all countries while bolstering regional security and economic prosperity, added Austin.

Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias affirmed Greece's commitment to the multinational effort, stating that their naval frigate will actively participate in Operation Prosperity Guardian. The Greek frigate's mission will center on protecting merchant ships and ensuring the safety of seafarers, with a focus on preserving the global economy.

Joining the collaborative efforts, the U.K. Ministry of Defense announced that the Royal Navy Destroyer HMS Diamond has joined the task force. This presence adds to the existing three U.S. destroyers already in the region. Additionally, a French warship is also partaking in the operation, according to the U.K. Ministry of Defense.

Despite the collective front against Houthi aggression, France's Defense Ministry stated that its ships in the region will remain under their command, and Spain's Defense Ministry clarified that its participation will be limited to NATO or EU-led operations, as reported by Reuters.

As tensions rise in the Red Sea, the multinational effort seeks to mitigate the threat posed by the Houthi rebels and ensure the safety and security of commercial shipping. The situation continues to evolve as more countries join forces to counter the escalating challenges in the region.