Tehran, August 9— Yemen's Houthi rebels and Iraq's Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI) conducted a joint operation targeting the Israeli port city of Eilat, also known as Umm al-Rashrash, in retaliation for recent events in Gaza. According to a statement from Yemen's armed forces, confirmed by Tehran-based Press TV on Friday, several drones were used to strike key targets in the city. However, Israeli authorities have yet to release information on casualties or the extent of the damage.

Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the leader of Yemen's Houthi Ansarullah movement, stated that the conflict with Israel has intensified, particularly following the deaths of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyah and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukhar. Al-Houthi emphasized that these assassinations have significantly escalated tensions in the region.

This latest strike follows a series of attacks by Yemeni forces earlier in the week, which included assaults on an Israeli-owned ship and two U.S. warships in the Red Sea. The attacks were reportedly conducted by a combination of Yemen's missile units, drone units, and naval forces, marking a coordinated effort by the resistance groups.

The situation in Gaza has remained dire since October 7 of the previous year, when Hamas launched a large-scale military operation against Israel. In response, Israel initiated intense airstrikes and ground operations in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of over 40,000 Palestinians, most of whom were women and children. The number of injured has surpassed a million.

In protest of the ongoing violence in Gaza, the Houthi Ansarullah movement has repeatedly targeted Israeli ships in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. The Houthis, backed by Iran, have declared that Israeli, U.S., and British ships are legitimate targets in the Middle East following the escalation of the conflict.

Over the past ten months, the Houthis have carried out numerous attacks on Israeli and allied ships and have significantly disrupted operations at an Israeli seaport. As tensions continue to rise, the region remains on high alert for further escalations.