TEL AVIV, December 24. /TASS/. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has issued instructions to his country’s diplomatic missions in the United Kingdom and EU countries to promote the idea of recognizing the Yemeni rebel movement Ansar Allah (the Houthis) as a terrorist organization, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said.

This decision, according to the ministry, was made in light of the recent Houthi attacks on Israel, including with the use of ballistic missiles. "Hundreds of ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones" have been launched at Israel since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, the ministry noted.

"Moreover, Houthi commanders publicly say that they will continue attacking Israel and hampering free navigation in the Red Sea. Dozens of European-flagged and European-owned ships have been attacked by the Houthis. In all, more than 100 vessels have been attacked in this area since October 7, 2023," it said.

The ministry slammed the Houthis as "agents of the Iranian regime, which uses them to destabilize the region." The Ansar Allah movement has been declared a terrorist organization in Australia, Canada, Malaysia, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and the United States, it recalled.

"The Houthis are a threat not only to Israel, but also to the region and entire world. Their direct threat to free navigation in one of the world’s busiest shipping routs is a challenge to the world community and world order. The first and fundamental step is to label them as a terrorist organization," the ministry quoted Saar as saying.