Yemen rebels threaten to join Hamas attack on Israel if US intervenes in conflict

‘If the Americans directly intervened militarily, we would be ready to participate, with missile and drone strikes and other military options,’ says group leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthia

SANAA, Yemen

Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Tuesday threatened to join the Hamas attack on Israel if the US became directly involved in the conflict.

“We are in complete coordination with our brothers in the axis of resistance,” group leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said in a statement broadcast by the Houthi-run Al-Masirah television.

“If the Americans directly intervened militarily, we would be ready to participate (against Israel), with missile and drone strikes and other military options,” he added.

On Monday, the US dispatched the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, toward Israel.

“These posture increases were intended to serve as an unequivocal demonstration in deeds, and not only in words, of US support for Israel’s defense,” the Pentagon said.

Israel continued its airstrikes on the Gaza Strip for the third day on Tuesday, following a multi-front Hamas attack on Israeli towns near the seaside territory.

Israel retaliated with massive airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and imposed a total blockade on the territory, home to nearly 2.2 million people.

At least 900 Palestinians were killed in the Israeli bombardment in Gaza, while Israeli officials estimate that 1,200 Israelis had been killed in the Hamas attack.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to use all of Israel’s strength to destroy Hamas’ capabilities and “take revenge for this black day.