Sanaa (South24) 

The Iran-backed Houthis have taken steps toward supporting the Palestinian factions in their fight against Israel since war broke out a week ago. 

The head of the Supreme Political Council of the Houthis, Mahdi Al-Mashat, made a phone call yesterday to the Secretary-General of the Islamic Jihad Movement, Ziyad Al-Nakhalah, according to a report by Houthi news agency Saba.  

The report said: "During the call, Al-Mashat blessed the 'Al-Aqsa Flood' operation, which stuck the [Israeli] enemy’s nose in the mud".

Al-Nakhalah acknowledged Al-Mashat for his call, according to Houthi media. He added: "We are betting on the Yemeni people standing by our side."

In conjunction with this call, senior Houthi official Mohammed Ali Al-Houthi met with representatives of the Palestinian factions in Sanaa, Saba reports.

The news agency quoted Al-Houthi as saying: “We are in constant communication and coordination with the Resistance Axis” and “the Axis has cards that it will use in the appropriate manner within a thoughtful, integrated framework.”

Last Tuesday, Saba reported that members of the [not internationally recognized] House of Representatives in Sanaa conducted a visit to the Palestinian Hamas movement's political office.

These moves come in the wake of the threats made by Houthi leader Abdulmalik Al-Houthi on Tuesday to launch missiles and drones "if the Americans intervene directly in Palestine alongside Israel".

Related: Houthis threaten to launch missiles and drones towards Israel

Meanwhile, the Iranian Foreign Minister yesterday held a meeting with several senior officials from the Hamas and Islamic Jihad movements in Beirut.

The conflict between Israel and the Palestinian factions continues to escalate amid large numbers of civilian casualties, particularly in the Gaza Strip, which Tel Aviv imposed a complete siege on days ago in response to the Hamas attack.