Iran-backed terrorist Houthi movement in Yemen threatens further attacks until 'demise of Israel'

Following their seizure of the Galaxy Leader cargo ship in the Red Sea on Sunday, the Houthi movement in Yemen, continues to threaten Israel and anyone who deals with the Jewish state.

Ali Al-Qahhoum, a political bureau member of the Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist movement in Yemen, took the threat even further in his remarks on Monday, declaring that the Houthis will continue their attacks until the “demise of Israel.”

“We will not stand idly by in the face of the Zionist aggression against the Palestinian people and the international and American outcry in support of the [Zionist] entity,” said Qahhoum.

Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree warned earlier on Sunday that any ships having anything to do with Israel are a “legitimate target.”

“The Yemeni armed forces reiterate their warning to all ships belonging to or dealing with the Israeli enemy that they will become a legitimate target for armed forces,” Saree said, adding that the Houthis would continue attacking Israeli targets until the war in Gaza ends.

“Yemeni armed forces confirm that they will continue to carry out military operations against the Israeli enemy until the aggression against Gaza stops,” the spokesman added.

The Houthis claim the ship they seized on Sunday is Israeli, however, according to the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the vessel is owned by a British company and operated by a Japanese business, and no Israelis were present on the vessel.

“The hijacking of a cargo ship by the Houthis near Yemen in the southern Red Sea is a very grave incident of global consequence. The ship departed Turkey on its way to India, staffed by civilians of various nationalities, not including Israelis. It is not an Israeli ship,” the Israel Defense Forces wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the seizure of the ship represents a “significant escalation in Iran's aggression against the citizens of the free world.”

Deputy Chief of the Houthis' General Staff, Maj.-Gen. Ali Hammoud Al-Mushki, warned that the Houthis would continue to attack targets both in and outside of Israel.

“We are with the Palestinian people, and as long as the Zionist enemy continues its crimes and killing the people of Palestine, we will continue to stand against the Zionist enemy,” Mushki said.

The owner of the Galaxy Leader cargo ship – Isle of Man registered Galaxy Maritime Ltd. – said on Monday that the vessel was now in the Hudaydah Port area, off of Yemen.

“All communications were subsequently lost with the vessel,” the owner said in a statement. "The company, as a shipping concern, will not be commenting further on the political or geopolitical situation.”

The U.S. condemned the seizure of the vessel and demanded that both the cargo ship and its crew be released immediately.

“The Houthi seizure of the motor vessel Galaxy Leader in the Red Sea is a flagrant violation of international law,” U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller stated.

“We demand the immediate release of the ship and its crew and we will consult with our allies and UN partners as to appropriate next steps.”