All Ships Linked to Israel Now Targets, Houthis Warn

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The Houthi rebels in Yemen have announced a new phase of attacks, stating they will strike any vessel with connections to Israeli ports, regardless of the flag it flies. The group says the move is in response to what they describe as the worsening humanitarian disaster in Gaza.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree made the announcement late Sunday, claiming that the group has decided to broaden its maritime campaign. “We warn all companies to cease dealings with Israeli ports starting from the date of this statement,” he said in a televised statement.

The latest warning signals a serious escalation, suggesting that any shipping company trading with Israel could now find itself in the crosshairs, regardless of the vessel’s nationality or route. According to Saree, this expanded targeting will take place “wherever they are able to do so,” hinting at a wider operational reach beyond the Red Sea.

The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, have been stepping up their maritime attacks since the conflict in Gaza reignited last year. While the United States previously carried out strikes against the group, President Donald Trump announced a halt to those operations earlier this year after receiving assurances from the Houthis. “Decisive and powerful military action against the Houthi terrorists in Yemen” had been authorised by Trump in March, before the cessation of US strikes.

Despite suspending attacks on American naval and commercial vessels, the Houthis have been clear that their hostility toward Israel remains unchanged. They have continued to hit vessels they claim are linked to Israeli trade or interests. In one recent incident, the Greek-owned cargo ship Eternity C was attacked in the Red Sea near Hodeidah. According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the ship came under fire from several small boats using RPGs. Fortunately, there were no casualties reported.

If the rebels’ threats are acted upon, they could have far-reaching consequences for global shipping routes, particularly those passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key maritime chokepoint linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Experts have warned that any significant disruption here could raise global shipping costs and further destabilise the region.

The Houthis insist their attacks are politically motivated, aimed at pressuring Israel amid the Gaza conflict. But critics argue that the group is using the crisis as a pretext to assert dominance.

Security analysts say that while the Houthis may lack the naval capability of a formal military, their use of drones, fast boats, and RPGs makes them a persistent threat in the Red Sea corridor. Their growing boldness has raised alarms among shipping firms and naval coalitions patrolling the region.

International shipping firms are now faced with a difficult choice: either cut ties with Israeli ports or risk potential attack. Whether the Houthis will follow through with their threats on a larger scale remains to be seen, but their message is unmistakably clear.