Sanaa: Yemen’s Houthi movement has warned it will resume missile and drone attacks on Israel if the ceasefire in Gaza collapses, according to a letter sent to the Palestinian group Hamas.
The warning, aired by the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, comes amid rising regional tensions that threaten the fragile US-brokered truce in Gaza and coincide with renewed friction between Iran and the United States over stalled nuclear negotiations.
In the letter, the Houthis’ newly appointed chief of staff, Yousif al-Madani, pledged continued support for Hamas, stating: “We remain steadfast in our pledge and promise to stand with you, no matter the sacrifices.”
Madani replaced Mohammed Abdulkarim Al-Ghamari, who was killed alongside dozens of Houthi officials in Israeli airstrikes on a building in Sanaa in August, Xinhua news agency reported.
Since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, the Houthis have launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones toward Israel, most reportedly intercepted, until the ceasefire took effect on October 10. The group also targeted Israeli-linked vessels in the Red Sea, sinking four.
Last week, the Houthis declared a state of general mobilisation, recruiting tribal fighters, increasing security measures, erecting new checkpoints, and detaining more UN staff on accusations of spying for Israel. They also deployed reinforcements to frontlines near Marib, a strategic oil-rich province held by Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces.
These moves followed a televised speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who described the Houthis as a threat to Israel and said efforts were underway to neutralise it.
(Inputs from IANS)