The United States and 11 other countries issued a joint statement on Wednesday reiterating a call for an end to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, according to the White House.

"Let our message now be clear: we call for the immediate end of these illegal attacks and release of unlawfully detained vessels and crews," said the statement, issued by the U.S. with Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Britain, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands and New Zealand.

"The Houthis will bear the responsibility of the consequences should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, and free flow of commerce in the region's critical waterways," it added.

In response, the Houthi side on Thursday rejected the joint statement, and vowed continued targeting of "Israel-linked commercial ships" in the waters.

The Houthi Spokesman Dhaifallah al-Shami said in a statement that it is "a moral failure and a miserable attempt to cover up the crimes of Israel," considering "America and Western countries are supporting Israel in committing more genocides against the Palestinian people."

He stressed that the armed group would continue attacking what it called "Israel-linked commercial ships" until Israel ends the conflict and siege on the Palestinian enclave of the Gaza Strip.

Since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on October 7, 2023, the Houthi militia has escalated their attacks on Israel-linked ships, demanding that food and medicine aid be allowed to enter the Gaza Strip.

(With input from agencies)