Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi militia has signaled that it will limit its maritime attacks in the Red Sea to only Israel-linked vessels, the Associated Press reported on Sunday.
The Houthis’ Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center announced that the terror group was “stopping sanctions” on other vessels it has targeted since November 2023, according to the report.
For Israeli ships, the Houthis’ attacks will only be stopped “upon the full implementation of all phases” of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal that went into effect on Sunday, it added.
“In the event of any aggression ... the sanctions will be reinstated against the aggressor state,” the statement continued. “You will be promptly informed of such measures should they be implemented.”
In November 2023, the Houthis announced they would attack any ship associated with the Jewish state. The Shi’ite terrorist organization said it would target all vessels operated or owned by Israeli companies as well as other ships bearing the “flag of the Zionist entity” in the Red Sea.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea called on all countries to withdraw their citizens working as crew members on Israeli ships, avoid working with Israeli freight carriers and steer clear of Israeli vessels.
The Houthis’ decision to target Israeli commercial vessels in the Red Sea was made in light “of what the Gaza Strip is being exposed to from the brutal Israeli-American aggression,” the terrorist spokesman added.
According to the Associated Press report, Houthi terrorists have since targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones.
The Israel Defense Forces has also bolstered its naval presence in the Red Sea area following repeated missile and drone attacks from Yemen.
