ADEN, Yemen, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The Yemeni Houthi group on Friday claimed to have conducted multiple military strikes targeting commercial vessels in regional maritime zones, including the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Mediterranean.

According to a statement by the group's military spokesman Yahya Sarea, the Houthis in its first operation fired ballistic missiles at the Israeli-flagged container ship MSC ALEXANDRA while it was transiting the Arabian Sea.

The second operation, described as part of the "fourth phase of escalation," targeted the Greek-owned vessel YANNIS as it passed through the Red Sea, the statement said, adding that the strike, carried out by its naval forces and unmanned aerial vehicle unit, was "accurate."

In a third operation, the group fired several missiles at the Israeli-flagged vessel ESSEX while it was navigating the Mediterranean Sea, Sarea said, accusing the ship of violating restrictions on entry into ports under Israeli control in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Moreover, the group renewed its warning to all commercial entities engaged in maritime trade with Israel, saying their vessels would be targeted within designated operational areas by Houthi forces, regardless of the ships' intended destinations.

The Houthis vowed to persist with "full determination and faith" in implementing the "fourth phase of escalation" until the cessation of "aggression" against Palestinians and the lifting of the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip.

Since last November, the Houthis began to launch anti-ship ballistic missiles and drones targeting what they said were Israeli-linked ships transiting the Red Sea to show solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza, which has been under relentless Israeli attacks for more than seven months.

In January, the United States and Britain launched a military operation by carrying out airstrikes on Houthi military sites to deter the group. However, the Houthis, in retaliation, have subsequently expanded their attacks to include U.S. and British ships. Enditem

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