Yemen's Houthis launched drones towards Israel's Ashkelon, spokesperson says

Dubai: Yemen's Houthis launched drones towards an industrial zone in the Israeli city of Ashkelon, the militant group's military spokesperson said on Tuesday.

The Yemeni fighters, who have being attacking ships crossing the Red Sea since November of last year, say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and in support of Lebanon against Israeli strikes.

The Israeli military said on Tuesday morning that sirens sounded in Ashkelon after a drone crossed into Israeli territory but fell in an open space in the area.

Israel condemns the Houthis as terrorists following the instructions of its arch-foe Iran.

The group, which controls the capital Sanaa and the most populous areas of Yemen, is part of Iran's self-proclaimed "Axis of Resistance" against Israel and US influence in the Middle East.

The Axis also includes the Palestinian group Hamas, that ignited a year-long war with Israel on Oct7, the Hezbollah movement in Lebanon, along with various Shi'ite armed groups in Iraq and Syria.