The comments followed a significant escalation, as a ballistic missile from Ansar Allah Movement struck central Israel for the first time.

Mohammed Al-Bukhaiti, a member of Ansar Allah political bureau, stated in an interview with Al Jazeera Mubasher TV that there have been communications from the US and the UK, either threatening or tempting the group, but claimed these efforts have not led to any substantial results. Al-Bukhaiti also suggested that these calls included threats of US military intervention against countries supporting Gaza.

In response, a US official labeled Al-Bukhaiti’s claims as “a total fabrication,” while a State Department spokesperson dismissed the allegations as “typical Houthi propaganda”, asserting that such claims are rarely true or newsworthy.

Ansar Allah has intensified their attacks on ships they allege are linked to Israel or are supporting Palestinians amidst the Gaza conflict. Since November, the group has damaged over 80 ships, sunk two, seized one, and killed at least three crew members.

The ongoing conflict in Gaza, sparked by a surprise Hamas attack on Israel, has resulted in significant casualties on both sides. According to Israeli sources, the attack killed 1,200 people and took around 250 hostages, while Gaza's health ministry reports that Israeli retaliatory actions have claimed 41,226 Palestinian lives and injured 95,413 others. (ILKHA)