AL-MUKALLA: The leader of the Houthis of Yemen has vowed to intensify attacks on vessels in the Red Sea until Israel stops its war in the Gaza Strip and the US ends its attacks against the group.
“We are preparing for a fourth round of escalation if the Israeli enemy and the Americans continue their intransigence,” Abdul Malik Al-Houthi said in a televised speech on Thursday.
He said that his forces carried out 606 ballistic missiles and drones against 107 Israeli, UK, and US ships in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Bab Al-Mandab Strait, and the Indian Ocean during their campaign that started in November.
In the past seven days, the Houthis have launched 33 ballistic missiles and drones at six ships in international seas near the coast of Yemen as well as the Israeli city of Eilat.
Al-Houthi added that 452 attacks by US and UK forces on the group had killed 40 people and wounded 35 others since January.
His warning came at a time when the group on Thursday said that the US and UK conducted five airstrikes on Hodeidah airport in the Red Sea’s western city of Hodeidah.
US carries out another attack on Al-Saleef port
On Tuesday, the US carried out another attack on the port of Al-Saleef in Hodeidah after the US Central Command reported its troops repulsed a Houthi attack with a drone boat on the same day.
The Houthis have captured a commercial ship, sunk another, and carried out hundreds of missile and drone attacks at international navy and commercial vessels in the Red Sea since November, claiming to be in solidarity with Palestinians and to put pressure on Israel to end its war in Gaza.
The US formed a marine forces coalition to protect the Red Sea as a response to the Houthi attacks.
It also carried out strikes on Houthi targets in Sanaa, Saada, Hodeidah, and other Yemeni areas.
