 "A Houthi fighter mans a machine gun mounted on a truck during a parade for people who attended Houthi military training as part of a mobilisation campaign, in Sanaa, Yemen December 18, 2024. Reuters File")
Israel has directed its diplomatic missions in Europe to push for the designation of the Iran-backed Houthi rebel group in Yemen as a terrorist organisation.
“The Houthis pose a threat not only to Israel but also to the region and the entire world. The first and most basic thing to do is to designate them as a terrorist organisation,” Reuters quoted Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar as saying in a statement.
The Houthis have launched drones and missiles at Israel, which they claim is in solidarity with Palestinians opposing Israeli forces in Gaza.
These attacks have disrupted international shipping routes, compelling companies to take longer and more costly detours, raising concerns about global inflation.
Sa’ar said he has written to the president of the UN Security Council and asked for an emergency session to be convened to “condemn the Houthis’ attacks and Iran’s ongoing support for them.”
The United States, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Israel currently designate the Houthis as terrorists, according to Sa’ar.
The Israeli military on Saturday failed to intercept a missile from Yemen that fell in the Tel Aviv-Jaffa area, injuring 14 people.
With inputs from agencies