News - Yemen: Sheikh Mohammed Muftah, head of the National Committee for the Support of Al-Aqsa, stated that Yemen's declaration of the 4th stage of escalation is directly linked to the events unfolding in the Gaza Strip.

Sheikh Muftah explained that the decision to escalate to the 4th stage is in line with the discussions held by the Leader of the Revolution Sayyed Abdulmalik regarding the developments in Palestine and the broader region. He affirmed that the Zionist and American escalation would trigger significant and impactful Yemeni operations.

He emphasized that Yemen will respond to Zionist escalation in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as threats to invade Rafah, by implementing the 4th stage of escalation.

In the event of any escalation, he added, Yemen's decision and the stance of the Yemeni Armed Forces are clear and declared. There may be a broader escalation in response to any Zionist aggression, whether targeting Yemen, Gaza, or any location in occupied Palestine.

Since the Zionist aggression on Gaza began, the Yemeni Armed Forces have launched three escalation stages against the Zionist enemy entity, starting with the maritime navigation ban for the Zionist entity in the Red Sea, then the navigation of ships affiliated with the enemy.

With the continuation of the Zionist aggression on Gaza, the Armed Forces expanded their operations to include enemy navigation in the Arabian Sea, reaching the Indian Ocean, and targeting the ships of the US-British aggression in response to their aggression against Yemen.

The Yemeni Armed Forces have conducted attacks on ships with ties to Israel near Yemeni ports, including the interception and seizure of a vessel associated with the Tel Aviv regime on November 19.

The maritime attacks have forced some of the world’s biggest shipping and oil companies to suspend transit through one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes.

Israel-bound tankers are instead adding thousands of miles to international shipping routes by sailing around the continent of Africa rather than going through the Suez Canal.

The Yemeni Armed Forces announced on Friday the beginning of implementing the fourth stage of escalation by expanding the targeting of ships affiliated with the Zionist enemy entity to the Mediterranean Sea.

The Armed Forces' announcement came in response to the directives of the Leader of the Revolution, Sayyed Abdulmalik al-Houthi, who vowed to escalate operations in the Red Sea until Israel ends its war in Gaza and the US stops attacking Yemen.

“We are preparing for a fourth phase of escalation if the Israeli enemy and the Americans continue their intransigence,” Sayyed Abdulmalik said in a televised speech on Thursday.