DUBAI, February 23. /TASS/. The Houthis of Yemen's Ansar Allah rebel movement use "underwater weapons" to carry out their operations against civilian ships and warships in the Red and Arabian Seas, the leader of the movement, Abdel Malek al-Houthi, said.

"[Military] operations in support of the Gaza Strip in the Red and Arabian Seas, the Gulf of Aden and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait continue. We are committed to intensify them. The number of such operations has increased, their level has increased, [for their implementation] missiles, drones and combat boats were used. Underwater weapons were also used in operations, and this worries our enemy," the Ansar Allah leader said in an address to his supporters, broadcast by the Houthi-owned Al Masirah TV channel.

Following the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the Gaza Strip, the Houthis have said they will be attacking Israeli territory and will not allow associated ships to pass through the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait until the operation in the enclave was halted.

On January 12, the US and British armed forces, using planes, ships and submarines, for the first time struck Ansar Allah facilities in a number of Yemeni cities, including Sanaa and Hodeidah. The targets included the Houthis’ missile and drone sites as well as radar stations.