DUBAI, January 11. /TASS/. Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the leader of the Yemeni rebel group Ansar Allah, has praised its fighters for efficiency in attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

"Yemen's position to prevent Israeli-linked ships from crossing the Red Sea and striking them is very effective and efficient," al-Houthi said in a speech broadcast by Al Masirah television.

The group’s leader also said the Houthis with their efforts have inflicted "huge economic losses on Israel and have had a broad impact on those who support it." Al-Houthi said the establishment of an international coalition that will seek to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea will not affect Ansar Allah's resolve to attack merchant vessels that the group believes have links to Israel.

Following the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the Gaza Strip, the Yemen-based Houthis said they would strike Israeli territory and prevent ships affiliated with that country from passing through the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait until the operation in the Palestinian enclave ended. According to the US Central Command, the Houthis have attacked more than 20 civilian ships in the Red Sea since mid-November. In response, the US started Operation Prosperity Guardian to ensure freedom of navigation and protect merchant ships.