An Iran-backed Houthi militant group in Yemen has escalated its campaign against global shipping, vowing to target any vessel operated by companies doing business with Israeli ports.
The warning follows a renewed wave of Israeli attacks following the collapse of an earlier Gaza ceasefire.
Iran-backed Houthis
Since 2023, the Houthis have struck more than 100 commercial vessels, prompting some major shipping firms to suspend routes through the Red Sea — including to Israel. The group’s stepped-up operations have raised fears of renewed Western military intervention.
A Houthi military spokesperson described the campaign as part of a “naval blockade” against Israel, now entering a new phase in which ships will be targeted regardless of nationality or destination.
The Red Sea
Houthi forces sank the Greek-operated Magic Seas using drones, missiles, and speedboats. According to Reuters, the ship was carrying fertilizer and iron between China and Turkey. The following day, they attacked the Eternity C, which was headed to the Israeli port of Eilat. Several crew members were killed, others remain missing, and some are feared kidnapped.
The Red Sea trade route is vital to global commerce, handling nearly 30% of worldwide container traffic and significant oil exports. The disruption is forcing shipping companies to reroute via South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, increasing freight costs and insurance premiums.
Following a truce in May that halted U.S. airstrikes against the group, the Houthis resumed attacks on Israel and warned airlines against flying to Ben Gurion airport, which they have targeted multiple times.
Israel and Iran
Fatima Abo Alasrar, an analyst with the Washington Center for Yemeni Studies, called the ship attacks “choreographed demonstrations of a new maritime order,” reflecting the Houthis’ alignment with Iran’s broader proxy strategy. She noted that when Houthi fighters filmed themselves boarding the abandoned Magic Seas, planting explosives while chanting “death to America, death to Israel, curse the Jews,” the act was calculated for propaganda value.
Although a fragile ceasefire exists between Israel and Iran, Tehran has maintained that the Houthis operate independently, rejecting U.S. and Israeli accusations of supporting militant groups in the region.
Yemeni Armed Forces
On Telegram, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree declared: “The Yemeni Armed Forces warn all companies to cease their dealings with Israeli enemy ports starting from the moment this statement is announced. Otherwise, their ships, regardless of their destination, will be targeted anywhere that can be reached or within the reach of our missiles and drones.”
According to S&P Global, the recent incidents marked the Houthis’ first attacks of 2025 and among their most destructive, with early reports indicating that two Greek dry bulk carriers sank and at least three seafarers were killed.
Israel has pledged to disrupt Houthi operations and is expected to continue striking Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, particularly the port of Hodeidah.
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Author: Joshua Wilburn
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