The decision by Houthi terrorist group to attack Israel was made independently, and "not at any request from anyone,” a senior Yemeni official told CNN on Monday.
On March 28, the Houthis, which controls around 30% of Yemen’s territory and governs the majority of the population, joined Iran’s war against the US and Israel, launching two ballistic missiles at southern Israel. Both were intercepted.
The official, senior Houthi official Mohammed Ali Al Houthi, also said that the group will uphold its ceasefire with the United States, as long as the US “adheres to its commitment to halt its aggression.”
Houthis will not target Muslim countries, official says
According to CNN, Ali Al Houthi stated that the group had "no intention to target any Muslim country," with the caveat that it would continue to respond to aggression against Yemen.
The Houthi official told CNN that, so long as Saudi Arabia "adheres to de-escalation and does not join America and Israel in escalating the conflict against our country," the Houthis would not target its Red Sea ports.
Ali Al Houthi also said that the Houthi's mission is to prevent the Red Sea from being used militarily against any Muslim country, and that is has the capabilities to protect it.
Jonathan Spyer contributed to this report.