Iran rejects accusations of involvement in Houthi attacks on Israel

TEHRAN -- Iran on Monday rejected accusations by US and Israeli officials of its involvement in attacks on Israel by the Houthis in Yemen.

In a statement released early Monday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry described the repetition of such "baseless" claims as an "affront to the powerful but oppressed" Yemeni nation.

The statement highlighted Iran's position on the necessity to respect countries' territorial integrity and national sovereignty, and condemned the US military attacks on Yemen as a "flagrant violation" of the UN Charter and international law.

The statement was released after the Houthi group announced a comprehensive air blockade on Israel "in response to its decision to expand its aggression against Gaza."

Earlier in the day, the group claimed responsibility for a missile attack that hit a driveway leading to the main terminal of Ben Gurion Airport, Israel's main international airport.

The Houthis have intensified missile and drone attacks on Israel in recent weeks amid renewed US airstrikes on their posts in Yemen.

The group has been targeting Israel since November 2023 in what they describe as an act of solidarity with Palestinians amid the conflict in Gaza.