Yemen’s Houthi rebels say the Iranian attack was legitimate

The Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen on Sunday said Iran's unprecedented missile and drone attack on Israel was a “legitimate act” that came in response to an airstrike on Iran's consulate in Syria that was widely blamed on Israel.

Writing on the messaging app Telegram, Mohamed Abdel Salam, spokesman for the Houthis, said Israel “won't be able to escape its crimes without punishment”.

The Houthis, who control the Yemeni capital and much of the country's north, have repeatedly launched attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and surrounding waters over the Israel-Hamas war. They also fired missiles and explosives-laden drones towards Israel.