Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi announced in his latest weekly address “the resumption of naval operations against Israeli ships” if the entry of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip is not renewed within four days.

Senior Houthi officials threatened last month that if the ceasefires in Gaza or Lebanon collapse, they will resume the launch of missiles at Israel.

According to Israeli officials, the Houthis’ threats were likely made at the request of Hamas “as a means of applying pressure to prevent a return to fighting,” Ynet reported.

From the beginning of the war, Hamas has aimed to unite Israel’s enemies to coordinate their attacks against the Jewish state

Israeli security officials are preparing for the possibility that the Houthis will carry out their ultimatum of resuming attacks against Israel and Israeli targets.

Israeli officials emphasized that security officials are working in close coordination with the US Central Command (CENTCOM) to prepare for all scenarios and is anticipating a harsher US response against the Houthis than the measures taken during the Biden administration.

During his first month in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the State Department to designate Yemen’s Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization.

Trump had designated the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization days before leaving office in 2021. However, the decision was reversed days later by the Biden administration due to “humanitarian concerns.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)