Houthis threaten more attacks on “Israel”

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis threatened Thursday (Jan 16) to keep up their attacks if “Israel” did not respect the recently announced ceasefire in its aggression against Gaza.

The Houthis, part of Iran's "axis of resistance", have been attacking “Israeli” and “Israeli-affiliated” ships in the Red Sea throughout the war on Gaza, saying it’s in solidarity with the Palestinians.

"We will watch the implementation of the agreement, and if there are any Israeli breaches, massacres or attacks, we will be ready to provide military support to the Palestinian people," Houthi chief Abdulmalik al-Houthi said in a televised address.

He was speaking a day after the announcement of a six-week ceasefire, expected to start on Sunday, that would involve the release of 33 “Israeli” captives being held by Hamas.

"The Israeli enemy failed to achieve its declared and clear goals, and failed miserably to recover its prisoners without an exchange deal," the Houthi leader said, maintaining that “Israel” and the US were "obliged" to accept the ceasefire.

Since the aggression on Gaza broke out in October 2023, the Houthis, who control much of Yemen, have fired dozens of missiles and drones at “Israel”.

They have also waged a harassment campaign against shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, severely disrupting vital trade lanes.

They have stepped up their missile launches against “Israel” in recent weeks, with 16 people wounded in one attack targeting Tel Aviv in December.

In response, “Israeli” jets have struck Houthi targets in a series of air raids, including one that killed four people at Sanaa's international airport last month.