PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES, Dec 19: Palestinian militant group Hamas said Thursday that Israel's strikes in Yemen after the Huthi rebels fired a missile at the country were a "dangerous development," while its armed wing called for more attacks on Israel.
"We regard this escalation as a dangerous development and an extension of the aggression against our Palestinian people, Syria and the Arab region," Hamas said in a statement as Israel struck ports and energy infrastructure in Yemen after intercepting a missile attack by the Huthis.
Hamas's armed wing, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, called on the Huthis to launch more attacks on Israel.
"We commend the missile attack carried out by our loyal brothers, the Ansar Allah in Yemen, targeting the heart of the Zionist entity," the group said in a separate statement.
"We praise their steadfast support for Gaza and call on them to escalate their attacks until the occupation submits and ends its genocidal war."
Meanwhile, Israel said Thursday it struck ports and energy infrastructure used by Huthi rebels in Yemen after intercepting a missile fired from the country, warning Huthi leaders it "will reach you too."
Huthi media said the strikes hit power stations, oil facilities and a port in Hodaidah, killing nine people and injuring others.
The strikes came after the interception of a missile fired by Huthi rebels towards Israel. The group has regularly targeted Israel over its military operation in Gaza.
Israel's military said it "conducted precise strikes on Huthi military targets in Yemen -- including ports and energy infrastructure in Sanaa, which the Huthis have been using in ways that effectively contributed to their military actions."
"I warn the leaders of the Huthi terrorist organization: Israel's long arm will reach you too," Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said.
Al-Masira, a media channel belonging to the Huthis, said a series of "aggressive raids" were launched in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa and the port city of Hodeidah.
It reported raids that "targeted two central power plants" in and around Yemen's capital Sanaa, while in Hodeidah it said "the enemy launched four aggressive raids targeting the port... and two raids targeting" an oil facility.
It said strikes on the Al-Saleef port had killed seven people, while two more were killed and other injured in the strike on the oil facility.
The strikes came after Israel's military intercepted a missile from Yemen for the second time this week.
On Monday, the Huthis claimed a missile launch they said was aimed at "a military target of the Israeli enemy in the occupied area of Yaffa" -- a reference to Israel's Tel Aviv area.
Also Monday, an Israeli navy missile boat intercepted a drone in the Mediterranean after it was launched from Yemen, the military said.
The Huthi rebels have said they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians and pledged Monday to continue operations "until the aggression on Gaza stops and the siege is lifted".
On December 9, a drone claimed by Huthis exploded on the top floor of a residential building in the central Israel city of Yavne, causing no casualties.
In July, a Huthi drone attack in Tel Aviv killed an Israeli civilian, prompting retaliatory strikes on the Yemeni port of Hodeidah. —AFP
