Sanaa (South24)

Abdulmalik Al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthi militia in Yemen, stated today that the delay in the "axis of resistance" led by Iran in responding to Israel is due to ongoing planning, emphasizing that retaliation is "inevitably coming".

In a televised speech broadcast by Al-Masirah channel, Al-Houthi asserted that his group's operations in support of Gaza are ongoing. He claimed that they have so far targeted 182 ships linked to Israel and vowed to continue these operations.

Al-Houthi also claimed that 432,000 people in Houthi-controlled areas of North Yemen have received military training as part of a general mobilization campaign to confront Israel and the United States (US) since October 2023.

He further criticized Morocco and other unspecified Arab countries, accusing them of being "traitors and collaborators with Israel." Al-Houthi called for demonstrations in Sanaa and other cities on Friday to show support for his group's actions.

In a related development, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a Greek oil tanker was adrift and on fire in the Red Sea yesterday after being hit by projectiles during a Houthi attack, which involved small boats carrying armed militants.

This incident marks the most violent attack since July 20, when Israel bombed fuel tanks in the port of Hodeidah in retaliation for the killing of an Israeli in Tel Aviv by a drone attack claimed by the Houthis.

Related: Israel strikes Houthi-held port of Hodeidah causing major fire 

From July 20 to August 21, the Houthis announced only three naval operations, a significant decrease compared to previous months.

The Houthis have repeatedly vowed to retaliate for the Hodeidah attack and to join any potential Iranian response to the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31.

In a statement published on X yesterday, US Central Command announced the destruction of an Iranian-backed Houthi surface-to-air missile system and radar in Houthi-controlled territory. 

August 21 U.S. Central Command Update

In the past 24 hours, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces successfully destroyed an Iranian-backed Houthi surface-to-air missile and radar system in a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen.

It was determined these systems presented a clear… pic.twitter.com/91h5UF3wya

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) August 21, 2024

They also stated separately that the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), equipped with F-35C and F/A-18 Block III fighters, had entered the US Central Command’s area of responsibility.