The Ansar Allah group (the Houthis) in Yemen has announced that they have begun practical steps to impose a "comprehensive aerial blockade" on Israel by carrying out repeated attacks targeting its airports, in an unprecedented escalation in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
This was stated in an official statement by the group's military spokesperson, Brigadier Yahya Saree, who confirmed that the attacks will continue to escalate, urging international airlines to immediately halt their flights to Israel to ensure the safety of aircraft and passengers.
In a direct political message, Saree said: "We will not accept the continued state of aggression that the enemy is trying to impose by targeting Arab countries, such as Lebanon and Syria," referring to the escalating tensions in the region and the repeated Israeli airstrikes.
The latest attack took place on Sunday, where the Houthis launched a missile that landed near Ben Gurion Airport in Israel, prompting Israel to hold an urgent security meeting that ended with a decision to militarily respond to the Yemeni group.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a recorded statement before a government session, threatened to launch more attacks against the Houthis, accusing them of coordinating with Iran, and emphasizing that Israel will continue to cooperate with the United States on this issue.
Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz also threatened further strikes against the Houthis and anyone threatening Israel's security, while Benny Gantz, former Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army and leader of the "Blue and White" party, called for direct strikes against Iran in response to the Houthi attack.
In a related context, Israel is preparing for a large-scale ground attack in the Gaza Strip, with thousands of reserve soldiers being called up, while the United States has announced the continuation of its airstrikes on Houthi sites in Yemen since March 15th in response to the repeated attacks on Israeli ships and sites.
President Donald Trump has also threatened to hold Iran fully responsible for any attack carried out by the Houthis in the region.
This escalation comes amid escalating unrest in the Middle East, with several parties seeking to impose a new reality amidst the ongoing war in Gaza and the increasing military and media support from some regional powers to resistance factions.