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Houthis vow to attack warships of coalition that aims to safeguard shipping in Red Sea

Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a member of the group’s Supreme Political Council, said the Houthis have sufficient military capabilities to confront coalition forces

DUBAI, December 19. /TASS/. The Houthis representing the opposition Yemeni group Ansar Allah will attack warships of the international coalition that has been assembled to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, said Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a member of the group’s Supreme Political Council.

"Ships of any country that opposes us will come under attack in the Red Sea," he told Iran's Al Alam television.

He said the Houthis have sufficient military capabilities to confront coalition forces.

Following the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the Gaza Strip, the Houthis said they would strike Israeli territory and prevent ships affiliated with the country from passing through the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait until the operation in the Palestinian enclave ended. Since mid-November, several commercial and military ships in the Red Sea have been attacked from Ansar Allah-controlled territory. The Houthis also seized the cargo ship Galaxy Leader with more than 20 crew on board.

In response to the actions of the Houthis, the US set up an international coalition and started preparations for an operation to ensure freedom of navigation and protection of ships in the Red Sea. The operation should include Bahrain, the UK, Spain, Italy, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Norway and the Seychelles. The group’s spokesman, Mohammad Abdul Salam, told TASS that the creation of the coalition will not affect the decision of the Houthis to attack commercial ships that are linked to Israel.

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