Galant: We’ll respond to any attack targeting the southern city of Eilat whether with missiles or other means
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant said on Wednesday that his country would respond to any attack targeting the southern city of Eilat, whether with missiles or other means.
Gallant, who met with Israeli naval and soldier commanders in Eilat, didn’t mention the Yemeni “Ansar Allah” group by name, but in recent weeks the group has claimed responsibility for launching missiles and drones at Eilat, as well as attacking Israeli ships near Yemen.
Gallant said in a written statement, “The threat to freedom of navigation in the Bab al Mandab Strait, two thousand kilometers from Israel, doesn’t only constitute a threat to traffic to Israel, but also to freedom of international navigation in waters belonging to all countries”.
He added, “I would like to thank my friend, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, whom I hosted in Israel a few days ago, for his leadership, on behalf of the United States, of the multinational force charged with ensuring freedom of navigation for all, in the Bab al Mandab Strait”.
Galant continued, “We’ll not tolerate threats against the State of Israel… If they continue to provoke us, and try to attack Eilat with missiles or other means, we will know what to do”.
He added, “We’re preparing, and the forces here are ready for any mission, and Israel, through its naval and air forces, will know how to defend itself”.
Earlier Wednesday, the leader of the Yemeni Houthi “Ansar Allah” group, Abdul-Malik al Houthi, vowed, in a televised speech, to target American battleships, in response to any escalation in the Red Sea.
On Monday, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced an initiative to form multinational forces from 10 countries under the name “Guardian of Prosperity,” with the aim of deterring the Houthi group’s attacks in the Red Sea and its threat to maritime trade flights.
On December 12, the “Ansar Allah” group announced the targeting of a Norwegian oil ship that didn’t respond to warnings and continued sailing towards Israel, while the British Maritime Agency announced that the ship and its crew who were targeted in the Red Sea were fine.
The military spokesman for the Houthis, also confirmed in a statement posted on his account on X, last November 19, the group’s intention to target any ship flying the Israeli flag, in response to the Israeli attacks on the besieged Gaza Strip.
