Yemen’s Houthi militia said on Wednesday that it would resume its attacks on “any Israeli vessel” in nearby maritime routes, citing Israel’s refusal to allow the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
The Houthis’ Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center said that their aim was to block any Israeli ship traveling through the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait or the Arabian Sea, the Associated Press reported on Wednesday.
“Any Israeli vessel attempting to violate this ban will be subject to military targeting in the declared operational area,” the statement warned.
“We hope it is understood that the actions taken by the [Houthi military] ... stem from a deep sense of religious, humanitarian and moral responsibility toward the oppressed Palestinian people and aim to pressure the Israeli usurper entity to reopen the crossings to the Gaza Strip and allow the entry of aid, including food and medical supplies,” the statement continued.
Maritime security firm Ambrey warned of the vagueness of the Houthi definition of an Israeli vessel, noting that it posed a risk to ships of other nations.
The Houthi threat is “likely to have extended once more toward ships partially owned by Israeli individuals or entities, vessels managed and/or operated by Israeli individuals or entities, vessels heading to Israel and to ships of companies that call Israel,” the company said, according to AP.
Ever since Hamas sparked the war in Gaza with their Oct. 7, 2023 invasion of southern Israel, the Houthis have publicly endorsed the terrorist group and have targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two ships and killing four sailors.
The rebel group has also launched more than 350 drones and missiles at the Jewish state.
The Houthis halted their attacks after the first phase of an Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement went into effect on Jan. 19. The 42-day phase expired on March 1. The gap between the sides with regard to Phase-2 talks remains wide, and Hamas has refused a U.S. proposal to extend Phase 1 over the month of Ramadan.
In response, Jerusalem, which accepted the U.S. bridging proposal, announced a freeze on the entry of aid to Gaza, warning that there would be “further consequences” should Hamas continue to refuse.
On Feb. 28, Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi threatened to restart missile attacks against Israel, warning that Tel Aviv would be in the crosshairs again if Jerusalem resumes combat against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
In a televised address marking the start of the Ramadan, he said that “If war returns to Gaza, we will rain fire upon all areas of the enemy regime [Israel], especially Tel Aviv, which is known as occupied Jaffa.”
The terrorist leader continued, “If the Israeli enemy continues after the first four days to prevent the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip ... then we will resume our naval operations against the Israeli enemy.”
The four-day deadline expired on Wednesday.
The U.S. State Department re-designated the Houthis in Yemen as a foreign terrorist organization on March 4. The move came a little more than a month after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order calling on the department to issue the reclassification.
