Mourners gathered at public funerals in Sanaa say they remain firm in their position on Israel's war on Gaza.
Seventeen Houthi fighters have been killed in US and British attacks, the Yemeni rebel group reported through its official media, following public funerals in the capital, Sana'a.
“The bodies of several martyrs of the nation and the armed and security forces who were martyred as a result of the bombing of the US-British aggression were transported through Sana'a today in a solemn funeral procession,” an official Houthi media said on the day of today. Saturday, listing their names.
The United States and the United Kingdom have been attacking Houthi targets in Yemen since mid-January, in an attempt to get them to stop their attacks on ships in the Red Sea.
Iran-backed rebels, who control much of war-torn Yemen, including the port of Hodeidah, have been attacking what they say are ships linked to Israel in response to the war in Gaza.
The United States saying Thursday that his military had carried out several raids against missile launchers as Houthi fighters prepared to launch them against American commercial ships and warships in the Red Sea.
A large number of supporters gathered on Saturday at the Al-Shaab Mosque in Sana'a, formerly the Al-Saleh Mosque, for the funerals of the Houthis killed in the attacks.
One of the mourners, Abu Moataz Ghalib, told the AFP news agency that he and others present remained firm in their position on the war in Gaza.
“We convey our message through these martyrs that it is absolutely impossible for us to abandon our position, which is based on principles and faith, and which forced us to act,” he said.
“Terrorist” designation
On Wednesday, the Houthi news agency reported that the United States and the United Kingdom had attacked targets in Hodeidah province.
On Tuesday, the Houthis said they had attacked American and British ships in two attacks in the Red Sea, causing minor damage but no casualties.
Attacks in the Red Sea have raised insurance premiums for shipping companies, forcing many to avoid the vital route that normally carries about 12 percent of global maritime trade.
On Friday, Steve Fagin, US ambassador to Yemen, said in X According to the US embassy, the United States will classify the Houthis as a terrorist group at the end of next week unless the group ceases its attacks on ships in the Red Sea.
The United States announced this measure in January, giving the Houthis 30 days to cease attacks before it took effect.
“In response to these continued threats and attacks, the United States announced the designation of Ansarallah, also known as the Houthis, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist,” White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement at the time. .
