French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that France decided not to participate in the US and the UK’s strikes against Yemen’s Houthis to avoid “escalation” in the region.

“We have a stance that seeks to avoid any escalation,” Macron told reporters, adding that the matter was “diplomatic” and not “military.”

The United States is preparing to designate the Houthis on the global terrorism list, as reported by Financial Times citing informed officials.

Houthi forces declared on Tuesday that they targeted a ship en route to occupied Palestinian ports with a number of “appropriate anti-ship missiles.”

Per the statement, the ship was directly targeted and hit after the ship's crew ignored warning calls and flares.

The Houthis reiterated their decision to prohibit “Israeli” maritime navigation or any “Israeli-affiliated” navigation in the Red and Arabian Seas until the cessation of aggression and the lifting of the blockade Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.