Houthi Leader: No Israel-linked ships passed through Gulf of Aden last week

(Patria) - The leader of Yemen's Houthis said the militia had managed to prevent ships linked to Israel from passing through the Gulf of Aden during the past week, Reuters reported.

"The Americans and the British failed to ensure the passage of any ship heading to Israel. They were unable to protect these ships. They can no longer protect even American-British ships, and this is a real and great victory for us," Abdul Malik al-Houthi said in a televised speech.

The Houthis, who control Yemen's most populous regions, have repeatedly fired on international commercial ships since mid-November. Their targets have been ships with commercial ties to the United States, Britain, or Israel, according to shipping and insurance sources.

"The agenda of Israel, America, and Britain is to end the Palestinian issue," al-Houthi said.

The Houthi operations in the Red Sea, he said, were "legitimate (as) they help to support the people of Gaza and lift the siege imposed on them".

The Houthis say they have targeted ships in solidarity with Palestinians over the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The attacks have led several companies to halt Red Sea voyages and opt for the longer, more expensive route around the African continent, and U.S. and British warplanes have carried out strikes across Yemen.