Israel warns of response to Houthi chemical weapons threat

Israel has warned it will take action against any attempts by the Houthis to use chemical weapons against its citizens, TASS reports.

Dmitry Gendelman, an advisor to the Israeli Prime Minister’s office, said, “Israel will respond to any threats from those attempting to harm the security of our citizens.” His comments come amid reports that the Houthis, officially known as the Yemeni rebel group Ansar Allah, have begun producing chemical weapons.

Yemen’s Information Minister, Moammar Al-Eryani, stated that the Shiite group, which controls parts of northern Yemen, is allegedly manufacturing chemical weapons using components smuggled from Iran.

The Houthis have been using long-range ballistic missiles and drones to strike Israeli territory, as well as attacking commercial vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. UN Security Council expert reports mention attempts to smuggle weapons from Iran to Yemen by sea. The Houthis insist that their arsenal consists of domestically produced weapons. Iran also denies allegations of military support to the Yemeni rebels.

The information presented by Moammar Al-Eryani represents the first direct accusation of chemical weapons production in Houthi-controlled territory. According to the minister, the Yemeni government’s assessment is based on intelligence from multiple “reliable sources,” indicating that “the militias have already begun preparing [toxic] materials and installing them on ballistic missiles and strike drones.”

By Vugar Khalilov