Houthi Leader Reminds His Group Will Step Up Attacks If Israel Doesn't Stop Operations In Gaza

The missile launch from the United States warship targeted the Houthi group. (Twitter/@CENTCOM)

JAKARTA - The leader of the Houthi group in Yemen allied with Iran said the group would step up its attack if Israel's military campaign in Gaza, Palestine was not stopped.

In a televised address, Abdul Malik al-Houthi said the group would "try to escalate its escalation if barbaric and brutal aggression against Gaza did not stop, along with a siege of Palestinians who were not given assistance and medicine," reported by Reuters on February 7.

The Houthis fired naval missiles at two ships in the Red Sea on Tuesday, a military spokesman said, causing damage to Britain's Star Nasia and Britain's Morning Tide.

Spokesman Yahya Sarea identified a Greek-owned ship, Marshall Islands, which marks Star Nasia as American. The ship brought US coal to India, according to shipping trackers.

The Houthis, which control Yemen's capital and the most populous territories, have been attacking international shipping in the Red Sea since November, in solidarity with Palestine, triggering retaliatory attacks from the United States and Britain since last month.

The attacks disrupted maritime trade in one of the busiest corridors in the world, as transport companies changed routes around Tanjung Harapan to avoid the Suez Canal.