MOSCOW, December 19. /TASS/. Israel may take part in an operation to ensure freedom of navigation and protect ships in the Red Sea amid attacks by Yemen-based Houthi rebels from the Ansar Allah movement, Israeli Ambassador to Russia Alexander Ben Zvi said.

"If need be, then [Israel] will participate. It (Houthi attacks - TASS) can in a way impact the economic blockade of Israel, so we will not sit idly by. As to what we will do, we will make an agreement with the countries that have joined the coalition [to combat the Houthi threat]," he told the Rossiya-24 TV channel.

The envoy also pointed out that an operation in the Red Sea was inevitable. According to him, Houthi attacks are greatly affecting the region’s economy. "It’s not just about us, but also the Egyptians and others," the diplomat noted. "If vessels cannot navigate the Red Sea, then <...> all goods will rise in price. It will deal a blow to the economies of various countries. It does not only concern Israel; I would say that it’s an issue for the international community to resolve, which is why a coalition is being formed," he added.

After the Israeli-Palestinian conflict escalated in the Gaza Strip, the Houthis announced plans to carry out strikes on Israel and prevent ships affiliated with the Jewish state from traversing the Red Sea and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait as long as Israel continued its military operation in the Palestinian enclave. The growing number of attacks on ships belonging to various companies compelled France’s CMA CGM transportation group and Denmark’s Maersk logistics company to suspend their Red Sea routes.