In the early hours of Wednesday, Yemen’s Houthi rebels issued a stern warning to shipping vessels in the region, specifically targeting “any Israeli vessel” navigating through Middle Eastern waters. This escalation comes amid Israel’s continued blockade on aid to the Gaza Strip. The Houthis’ announcement significantly disrupts a vital maritime corridor between Asia and Europe, putting revenue from Egypt’s Suez Canal at risk and potentially halting aid supplies to conflict zones. The rebels previously demonstrated a broad interpretation of what constitutes an Israeli ship, suggesting other vessels might also come under threat.
This pronouncement was made by the Houthis’ Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center following a four-day ultimatum they had issued, which called for the resumption of aid shipments by Israel. The statement underscored the Houthis’ actions as driven by a profound “religious, humanitarian and moral responsibility” toward the Palestinian people, with the aim of pressuring Israel to open crossings to the Gaza Strip for essential aid, including food and medical supplies. The warning explicitly extends over crucial passages such as the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Arabian Sea. It cautioned that any “Israeli vessel attempting to violate this ban” would face military action within the designated operational areas.
As of now, there has been no immediate indication of any attacks on ships following this warning. The Israeli military has yet to provide a comment on the situation. The gravity of the warning comes as aid deliveries into Gaza remain halted. Earlier this month, Israel stopped all aid into the Gaza Strip and cautioned of “additional consequences” for Hamas should the fragile ceasefire end without an agreement to continue. The decision raised several eyebrows internationally, considering Gaza’s reliance on foreign aid has only deepened following intensive Israeli military offensives that devastated the region.
The maritime security company Ambrey commented on the Houthis’ statements, describing them as “ambiguous” and implying increased risks for other ships beyond Israeli-flagged vessels. It is likely, the firm suggested, that these threats also encompass ships partially owned by Israeli entities, those managed by Israelis, or ships en route to Israel, among others. However, no direct threats have been issued against the U.S. Navy, whose 5th Fleet, based in Bahrain, patrols the region. In recent history, Houthi campaigns have targeted American and Western military vessels, a campaign that saw the Navy engage in significant combat engagements unseen since World War II.
The aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman and its associated fleet are currently active in the Red Sea. The U.S. military has affirmed that its regional forces remain vigilant and prepared to “protect and defend U.S. personnel, assets, and partners.” Meanwhile, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the enigmatic leader of the rebels, cautioned last Friday about resuming attacks on Israel-linked vessels if Israel didn’t permit humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. This verdict follows a series of past assaults where the Houthis targeted over 100 merchant ships using missiles and drones. These efforts resulted in the sinking of two vessels and the loss of four sailors’ lives during operations spanning November 2023 to January 2024. The attacks bolstered the Houthis’ notoriety at a time when they grapple with economic desperation at home, exacerbated by a ten-year internal conflict that has left Yemen, the Arab world’s poorest nation, in turmoil.
