Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
The Houthi armed group announced on Monday its decision to resume attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and Bab al-Mandab Strait.
In a press statement, the Houthi military spokesperson stated that the blockade would continue until the crossings into Gaza are opened and humanitarian aid, including food and medicine, is allowed to enter.
He claimed that this decision comes in the context of strengthening supportive stances towards Palestine, while continuing the ban on Israeli ships in strategic maritime passages until their humanitarian demands related to Gaza are met.
On Friday, Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi declared that the group would resume its naval operations against “Israel” if it did not lift its suspension on aid entering Gaza within four days, signaling a potential escalation.
Since November 2023, the armed group has launched more than 170 attacks on maritime shipping, citing solidarity with Palestinians amid the Israeli assault on Gaza. The attacks had decreased in January following a ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave.
During these operations, the Houthis sank two ships, seized another, and killed at least four sailors, causing disruptions to global shipping and forcing companies to reroute vessels along a longer and more expensive path around the southern tip of Africa.
