France condemned on Sunday two attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Israeli targets, accusing them of escalating tension in the Middle East by entering the regional war.

“The Houthis should abstain from all attacks,” French foreign ministry spokesman Pascal Confavreux said. He accused them of being “irresponsible”.

He said everything should be done “to avoid an even greater escalation of the conflict”, which has killed thousands across the region and sent energy markets into a tailspin.