The Ansar Allah (Houthis) military-political movement, which controls northern Yemen, has announced a “new phase” in its naval operations. They declared that they will attack ships of any company interacting with Israeli ports, regardless of their destination or flag. Houthi military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree stated that this marks the “fourth phase of the naval blockade against the enemy” in response to the situation in the Gaza Strip.
Saree emphasized that the Yemeni Armed Forces are warning all companies to cease their dealings with “Israeli enemy ports” from the moment this statement is announced. Otherwise, their ships will be targeted anywhere within the reach of Houthi missiles and drones. This escalation signifies an intensification of Houthi actions, who previously declared support for Palestine and targeted ships deemed linked to Israel, urging crews to abandon them and avoid approaching.
The Houthis’ actions have caused significant disruptions in Red Sea shipping, a vital maritime route. Although the movement has pledged not to interfere with freedom of navigation for non-Israel-linked ships, the increased threats have led some companies to suspend shipping through the Red Sea entirely, raising concerns about the impact on global trade and maritime security.
