Yemen’s Houthi rebels warned early Wednesday that “any Israeli vessel” traveling through Middle Eastern waters is now a target, escalating tensions in a crucial global shipping route. The warning follows Israel’s continued blockade of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
The Houthis’ announcement further destabilizes a vital maritime corridor linking Asia and Europe, poses a threat to Egypt’s Suez Canal revenues, and raises concerns over the safe passage of aid shipments to war-affected areas. The rebels have previously used a broad definition of Israeli-affiliated ships, suggesting that other vessels could also be at risk.
The statement, issued by the Houthis’ Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center, follows a four-day deadline the group had set for Israel to resume aid shipments into Gaza.
“We hope it is understood that the actions taken by the [Houthi military] … stem from a deep sense of religious, humanitarian and moral responsibility toward the oppressed Palestinian people and aim to pressure the Israeli usurper entity to reopen the crossings to the Gaza Strip and allow the entry of aid, including food and medical supplies,” the statement read.
The warning covers the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Arabian Sea. The statement further declared: “Any Israeli vessel attempting to violate this ban will be subject to military targeting in the declared operational area.”
There was no immediate sign of an attack, and Israel’s military did not respond to requests for comment.
Israel recently halted all aid deliveries into Gaza, warning of “additional consequences” for Hamas if ceasefire negotiations fail to extend the current pause in hostilities. The move has drawn international criticism, as Gaza’s over 2 million residents rely heavily on humanitarian assistance.
The maritime security firm Ambrey warned that the Houthis’ statements were “ambiguous” and could put additional ships at risk. The firm suggested that the threat likely extends to vessels partially owned, managed, or operated by Israeli entities, as well as those heading to Israeli ports.
There was no direct threat against the U.S. Navy, but previous Houthi attacks have targeted American and allied warships. The Bahrain-based U.S. 5th Fleet, which patrols the region, remains on high alert. The USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier group is currently operating in the Red Sea, with the U.S. military stating Wednesday that its forces “remain vigilant.”
“We will do what is necessary to protect and defend U.S. personnel, assets, and partners,” the U.S. military said.
The rebels’ leader, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, had warned last Friday that attacks on Israel-linked vessels would resume if aid to Gaza was not allowed. That deadline expired on Tuesday.
Since November 2023, the Houthis have launched missile and drone attacks on over 100 merchant vessels, sinking two and killing four sailors. These operations have increased the group’s global profile amid Yemen’s ongoing civil war, while the Houthis have also tightened control at home through crackdowns on dissent and restrictions on humanitarian aid workers.
