WASHINGTON, December 23. /TASS/. The US administration believes that Iran was involved in planning the Yemen-based Houthi rebels’ attacks in the Red Sea, Reuters reported, citing White House National Security Council Spokesperson Adrienne Watson.
"We know that Iran was deeply involved in planning the operations against commercial vessels in the Red Sea. This is consistent with Iran's long-term materiel support and encouragement of the Houthis' destabilizing actions in the region," she pointed out. "This is an international challenge that demands collective action," Watson said.
The news agency notes that Iran denies involvement in attacks by the Houthis in the Red Sea.
Following the escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the Gaza Strip, the Yemeni Houthis said they would strike Israeli territory and prevent ships associated with Israel from passing through the waters of the Red Sea and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait until the operation in the Palestinian enclave was halted. Since mid-November, several commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea have been attacked from the territory controlled by the Ansar Allah (Houthi) movement. Moreover, the Houthis seized the Galaxy Leader cargo ship with more than 20 crew members on board. The US authorities responded by announcing the establishment of an international coalition and preparing an operation to ensure freedom of navigation and protection of ships in the Red Sea. Included in the operation will be Bahrain, the UK, Spain, Italy, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Norway, the Seychelles and Spain. An Ansar Allah spokesman told TASS that the creation of the coalition would not affect the decision of the Houthis to attack commercial ships associated with Israel.