Daijiworld Media Network - Sanaa

Sanaa, Jan 18: Yemen's Houthi group has claimed responsibility for a series of rocket and drone attacks targeting Israeli cities and a US aircraft carrier in the Red Sea, citing retaliation for actions in Gaza.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea announced on Friday, via Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, that the group launched four cruise missiles at Israel’s southern port city of Eilat. The group also claimed to have targeted Tel Aviv and Ashkelon, in addition to conducting their seventh attack against the US aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman in the northern Red Sea.

"In response to the recent massacres against our brothers in Gaza, we carried out a military operation targeting vital targets in the Israeli southern port city of Eilat," Sarea stated. He further warned of continued escalation should Israel violate the Gaza ceasefire agreement or launch further strikes.

Sarea reiterated the group’s support for Hamas, emphasizing their intent to expel Israel from all of Palestine.

Shortly after these attacks, al-Masirah TV reported US airstrikes in Yemen’s Harf Sufyan district, targeting Houthi military positions. The US military has yet to issue a statement regarding these incidents.

These developments follow statements from Houthi leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi, who vowed to maintain rocket attacks on Israeli cities if Israeli forces continue their military operations in Gaza. The strikes come just days after a truce agreement between Hamas and Israel was brokered in Doha.

This escalation marks a significant increase in regional tensions, with the Houthis directly targeting multiple nations involved in the ongoing Middle East conflict.