Houthis threaten all ships conducting business with Israel in renewed Red Sea escalation

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have declared that they will target any commercial vessel linked to Israel in any capacity, regardless of its flag, ownership or destination. In a sharp escalation of their maritime campaign, the group said ships belonging to companies that conduct business with Israeli ports would be struck “anywhere that can be reached” by Houthi missiles or drones.

“The Yemeni Armed Forces warn all companies to cease dealings with Israeli enemy ports from the moment this statement is issued,” Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree said on Sunday. “Otherwise, their ships will be targeted, regardless of their nationality.” Saree described this as the “fourth phase” of their military operations, aimed at enforcing a naval blockade on Israel in response to the ongoing war in Gaza.

The Houthis claimed their actions stem from a “religious, moral and humanitarian responsibility” towards Palestinians and called on other nations to pressure Israel to end its offensive and lift the blockade on the Gaza Strip. “There is no free person on this earth who can accept what is happening,” the group said. They vowed to halt all attacks if Israel stops its aggression.

Since the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led assault on Israel, the Houthis have launched numerous attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, which they say are acts of solidarity with Gaza. In retaliation, Israel has conducted airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas, particularly around the port city of Hodeidah.

Although Houthi maritime attacks had paused for several months, following a deal with Washington in May, they have now resumed. At the time, President Donald Trump had declared the Houthis “no longer want to fight” and ended American airstrikes. While the Houthis halted strikes on US vessels, they have since resumed targeting other commercial ships.

In renewed attacks, the Houthis sank two Liberian-flagged vessels, the MV Eternity C and MV Magic Seas, earlier this month, killing four sailors and leaving several others missing. The Eternity C, owned by a Greek company, was hit off the coast of Yemen. Twelve crew members are believed to be either missing or held hostage.

Between November 2023 and late 2024, the Houthis carried out more than 100 attacks on merchant vessels, sinking four and killing eight sailors. The renewed strikes are worsening the security situation along the Red Sea, a strategic trade corridor through which an estimated $1 trillion in goods pass annually.

The economic fallout is being felt most acutely in Israel’s Port of Eilat, which has seen a 90 per cent drop in activity since the attacks began. Eilat is Israel’s third-largest port and is a major point of entry for goods from China, India, and Australia. Port officials warned that operations were at risk of collapse without government assistance. While Eilat is Israel’s smallest commercial port, a full shutdown would mark a symbolic win for the Houthis and underscore the reach of their campaign.

Middle East