Yemen’s Houthis are threatening to attack all Israeli-affiliated commercial ships in the Mediterranean

Sanaa, May 4 Yemen’s Houthi group has announced the expansion of its ballistic missile attacks to all Israeli-linked commercial ships transiting the Mediterranean.

“We will attack all ships bound for or connected to Israel in the Mediterranean Sea, as well as in any area within our reach,” Houthis military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a televised statement on Friday, saying addressed the group’s fourth phase of military escalation. in the region, reports Xinhua news agency.

“The implementation of this decision begins now,” he noted.

In addition, the spokesperson warned that if Israel plans to launch an aggressive military operation against Rafah in southern Gaza, the Houthis will target all ships and companies calling at Israeli ports and prevent “all ships of these companies” from entering the Red Sea will pass. the Arabian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, “irrespective of their destinations”.

“We will not hesitate to continue the military escalation until Israel stops its war and lifts the blockade of the Gaza Strip,” Sarea added.

Yemen’s long civil war erupted in 2014 when the Houthi group took control of much of the country’s north, including the capital Sanaa and the strategic Red Sea port city of Hodeidah.

Since last November, the Houthis have begun launching anti-shipping ballistic missiles and drones, targeting ships they say are linked to Israel transiting the Red Sea, to show solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza, which has been under attack for nearly seven years. has been under brutal Israeli attacks for months.

In January, the US and Britain launched a military operation by carrying out airstrikes on Houthi military sites to deter the group.

In retaliation, the Houthis then expanded their attacks to target American and British ships.

On Thursday, Houthi leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi said in a televised address that the US-British coalition’s attacks have not undermined his group’s military capabilities and warned against further escalation.

–IANS

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