The Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen on Monday vowed to block Israeli shipping in the Red Sea following the renewal of hostilities between Jerusalem and Tehran.
"We declare a complete ban on enemy navigation in the Red Sea, and we consider any Zionist movements to be military targets for our forces," Houthi military spokesman Yahya Al Saree was quoted by the Emirati-based news outlet The National as saying in a televised statement made following a Houthi missile launch at Israel earlier in the morning.
He added that the group would “respond to escalation with escalation,” and that its operations would intensify “in line with the battle and in conjunction with the axis of jihad and resistance."
Following the missile launch, the group claimed it had struck targets in Jaffa, in western Israel, but this has not been confirmed by the IDF.
Meanwhile, Bloomberg quoted the Houthis as saying in a statement on Monday that they had a right to “confront the American-Israeli aggression.”
“We declare a complete and total ban on Israeli maritime navigation in the Red Sea,” a spokesman said. “We consider all enemy movements to be legitimate military targets for our Armed Forces.”
Iran fired four missile barrages at Israel on Sunday night, shattering a fragile ceasefire that had been in place since April 8.
Tehran said it was responding to Israel’s strikes against Hezbollah in Beirut, which the IDF in turn blamed on the Iranian-backed Lebanese militia continuing to bombard northern Israel with rocket fire.
The IDF said the Iranian projectiles were intercepted or struck open areas, with no reports of damage.
The Magen David Adom emergency service said paramedics treated two people who were injured while moving to protected spaces.
Following the attack, the IDF struck military targets in western and central Iran early Monday.
Missiles were launched at Israel from Yemen and Iran later that morning, as the IDF reported strikes on targets at an Iranian petrochemical complex.
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