LONDON, January 6. /TASS/. Any state that joins the international coalition formed under the auspices of the US to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea will be targeted by the missiles of Yemen's Houthi rebels, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a member of the movement's political council, told the BBC Arabic service.

"Any state [participating in the US-led coalition] will lose its maritime security and will be targeted by our missiles," the senior official pointed out.

Following the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the Gaza Strip, the Yemeni rebels (Houthis) declared that they would attack Israeli territory and would not allow any ships affiliated with it to pass through the waters of the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait until the operation in the Palestinian enclave is halted. The US Central Command estimates that the Houthis have attacked over 20 ships and civilian vessels in the Red Sea since mid-November.

In response to the movement’s actions, US officials announced the formation of an international coalition and the preparation of Operation Prosperity Guardian to ensure freedom of navigation and protection of ships in the Red Sea. The operation will include Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, Spain and the United Kingdom.