Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Abraham Hamadeh (AZ-08) condemns the Iranian-backed Houthis and is calling for swift action in response to their terroristic seizure of the port of Mocha.

“The seizure of the strategic port of Mocha in the Red Sea by the Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists from Yemeni control is a direct assault on regional security, freedom of navigation, and the global economy. The Houthis are an armed extension of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The seizure of this port puts Saudi Arabia directly in harm’s way and we must stand with our allies in the region,” sated Congressman Hamadeh. “The Houthis must face decisive consequences, and Tehran must understand that the era of attacking America and our allies through proxies is over. America First doesn't mean America alone.

Congressman Hamadeh, a former U.S. Army Intelligence Officer, knows first-hand the ravages committed by the Houthi terrorists from his service time in Saudi Arabia. In 2021, then-Captain Hamadeh was deployed to the Middle East when the Houthis conducted multiple high-profile attacks against civilian Saudi Arabian and coalition targets in the Gulf.

In February 2025, Congressman Hamadeh introduced H.R. 1250, requiring the imposition of sanctions with respect to the officials, agents, or affiliates of Ansarallah, commonly known as the Houthis, for acts of international terrorism.

In April 2025, Congressman Hamadeh reached across the aisle to work with Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) to introduce the Promoting Education on the Abraham Accords for Comprehensive Engagement (PEACE) Act, which will strengthen U.S. diplomatic engagement by institutionalizing training on the Abraham Accords and other normalization agreements at the U.S. State Department.

BACKGROUND

"Yemen's Tehran-backed Houthis attacked four cities in the south of U.S. ally Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, wounding more than 70 people and setting oil installations ablaze in what appeared to be a major expansion of the six-month-old Middle East war," reported USAToday. "The Houthis, who control most of Yemen's populated areas including the capital, said they had launched a broad operation deep into Saudi territory. They used drones and missiles to strike a Saudi airbase in the southern city of Khamis Mushait, and targets belonging to Saudi Arabia's state oil company in nearby Abha, Najran on the Yemeni border, and Jazan, a major Red Sea port city that houses a large refinery and power plant."