DUBAI (Reuters) – Yemen's Houthis launched drones towards an industrial zone in the Israeli city of Ashkelon, the group's military spokesperson said on Tuesday.
The Yemeni fighters, who have being attacking ships crossing the Red Sea since November of last year, say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and in support of Lebanon against Israeli strikes.
The Israeli military said on Tuesday morning that sirens sounded in Ashkelon after a drone crossed into Israeli territory but fell in an open space in the area.
Israel condemns the Houthis as terrorists following the instructions of its arch-foe Iran.
The group, which controls the capital Sanaa and the most populous areas of Yemen, is part of Iran's self-proclaimed "Axis of Resistance" against Israel and US influence in the Middle East.
The Axis also includes the Palestinian group Hamas, that ignited a year-long war with Israel on Oct.7, the Hezbollah movement in Lebanon, along with various Shi'ite armed groups in Iraq and Syria.
Meanwhile, the group's military spokesman, Yahya Sarea, said in a televised statement: “the Drone Air Force of the Yemeni (Houthi) Armed Forces carried out a significant military operation that targeted the industrial area of the Israeli enemy in Ashkelon, southern occupied Palestine. The operation was conducted with several drones, which successfully reached their targets by the grace of God.
“The Yemeni (Houthi) Armed Forces, in response to the crimes of the Zionist enemy in Gaza and Lebanon, will continue their military operations, and these operations will not cease until the aggression is stopped, the blockade on the Gaza Strip is lifted, and the aggression against Lebanon is halted,” he added.