A top-ranking Yemeni official has warned the European Union against “playing with fire” after the 27-member bloc launched a naval military mission in the Red Sea.

Mohammad Ali al-Houthi, who is a member of Yemen's Supreme Political Council, made the remarks on Tuesday after an attack by Yemeni armed forces sank the UK-registered Rubymar cargo in the Gulf of Aden, Press TV reported. 

“To the Europeans: do not play with fire and learn a lesson from Britain. You need not support the American devil in protecting the Israeli regime so that it can exterminate the people of Gaza with no disturbance,” he said in an X post.

It followed an announcement of the official launch of the EU naval operation called Aspides (“shield” in ancient Greek) amid Yemen’s maritime campaign in solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza strip.

With a mandate set initially for one year, the mission will send European warships and airborne early warning systems to the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and surrounding waters.