The Yemeni Houthi movement has announced the resumption of attacks on Israeli-linked ships in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Gulf of Aden, ending a period of relative calm that began in January following the Gaza ceasefire.
Since November 2023, the Iran-backed Houthis had carried out over 100 attacks on commercial vessels, citing solidarity with Palestinians amid Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza. Their offensive resulted in the sinking of two ships, the seizure of another, and the deaths of at least four seafarers. The disruptions forced global shipping companies to take longer and costlier routes around southern Africa.
The latest escalation follows a warning from the Houthis’ leader on Friday, stating that naval operations would resume unless Israel lifted its blockade on humanitarian aid to Gaza within four days. On March 2, Israel blocked the entry of aid trucks, intensifying the standoff over the ceasefire. In response, Hamas urged Egyptian and Qatari mediators to intervene.
“This ban will remain in effect until the crossings to the Gaza Strip are reopened and humanitarian aid, including food and medical supplies, is allowed to enter,” the Houthis said in an emailed statement on Wednesday, confirming that the blockade of Israeli-linked vessels was immediate.
Meanwhile, the United States has reaffirmed its designation of the Houthis as a “foreign terrorist organisation” (FTO). The US State Department reimplemented the designation in January under the Trump administration, aiming to impose stricter economic penalties on the group due to its attacks on international shipping and US warships operating in the region.
The renewed Houthi offensives add to the growing instability in the Middle East, raising concerns over the safety of global trade routes and escalating tensions between regional and international forces.
Melissa Enoch
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