Response to Israel escalation will come not just from Iran, Houthis say

Ali Al-Qahoum, a member of the political bureau of Yemen’s Houthi group, said yesterday that “Israel and the United States are responsible for the expansion of the conflict in the region.”

In his remarks to Russia’s Sputnik agency, Al-Qahoum noted: “The world has witnessed the heinous Zionist criminal actions, whether through the assassination of leaders in Lebanon or the killing of the prominent martyr in Iran, Ismail Haniyeh.”

This, he continued, “represents an escalation and expansion of the battle by the Zionists, marking a new phase, especially following the speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his return from Washington, in a clear move to widen the flames and fires across the region.”

He confirmed that the response for its actions will  not just come from Iran.

“We affirm our commitment to the battle, steadfastness, awareness, honour, and pride in standing with Palestine, the cause of the nation,” AL-Qahoum said.

Last Tuesday, Israel announced that it had assassinated senior Hezbollah leader, Fouad Shukr, following an airstrike that targeted a residential building in the Lebanese capital, Beirut.

Only hours later, Haniyeh was killed during a trip to Iran. Israel has not taken responsibility for his death.

Read: Underestimating Yemeni resolve, Israel opens up a southern front