Houthi leader calls for escalation against Israel after Lebanon deal

The leader of Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi militia has called for increased escalation against Israel from both Yemen and Iraq after a ceasefire agreement between their Lebanese ally Hezbollah and Israel began on Wednesday.

The Houthi-affiliated al-Masirah TV cited Abdel-Malek al-Houthi said Thursday as saying: "At the level of the Axis, it is important to build on what the Lebanese front has achieved and move to further escalation especially on the Iraq and Yemen fronts."

"The Iraqi front is strong and important. It has capabilities that help it to be more effective, God willing, in confronting the Israeli enemy," he added.

There have been repeated attacks on Israel by the so-called Axis of Resistance of Iran's allies since the beginning of the Gaza war more than a year ago.

In addition to Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the alliance includes militias in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen.

Since the outbreak of the Gaza war, the Houthis have fired rockets and drones at targets in Israel and attacked ships in the Red Sea.

US and Israeli military forces have repeatedly struck targets in Yemen in response.