Houthis escalate by targeting any company trading with Israel

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The Yemeni Houthi movement has escalated its military campaign by declaring it will now target any company whose ships deal with Israeli ports, regardless of nationality. This move marks what the group calls the “fourth phase” of its operations against Israel.

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In a televised statement, military spokesperson Yahya Saree warned that companies ignoring these directives would have their vessels attacked, regardless of their destination.

He stated: “The Yemeni armed forces warn all companies to cease dealings with Israeli ports effective immediately. Otherwise, their ships will be targeted wherever our missiles and drones can reach.”

Saree urged the international community to pressure Israel to end its military campaign and lift the blockade on Gaza, stressing that no free person could remain silent about the situation in the besieged enclave.

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Since the war in Gaza began in October 2023, the Iran-aligned Houthis have frequently attacked vessels they perceive to be linked to or headed for Israel, claiming these actions are a show of solidarity with Palestinians.

In May, the United States reached a surprise agreement with the Houthis, halting its airstrikes in exchange for a suspension of maritime attacks. However, the Houthis clarified that Israeli-related targets remained excluded from the deal.

Last Tuesday, the Houthis claimed they launched a “Palestine 2” hypersonic ballistic missile targeting Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv.

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In addition to missile strikes, the Houthis have for months targeted vessels owned by or heading to Israel. On Friday, Israel’s military intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, after alarms were triggered in the Negev region and near the Dead Sea.

On Thursday, Houthi leader Abdel-Malik al-Houthi said his group was considering further escalation against Israel in support of Gaza. He noted that 11 hypersonic missiles and drones had been launched toward occupied Palestine in the past week.

He stated that the maritime blockade on Israel would continue and that the port of Eilat had been completely shut down — calling this a major loss and defeat for Israel.

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In July, the Houthis sank two cargo ships in the Red Sea — their first major escalation in seven months as part of a nearly two-year campaign aimed at choking global maritime trade in protest of Israel’s war in Gaza and the plight of the Palestinian people.

Since November 2023, the Houthis have carried out over 100 attacks on vessels, sunk four ships, seized another, and killed at least eight sailors.

The White House has previously said that Houthi attacks forced nearly 60 percent of EU-linked shipping to reroute via Africa instead of using the Red Sea, causing ongoing disruption to global trade and U.S. economic security.

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The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, along Yemen’s southern coast, is one of the world’s most strategic maritime passages, connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. It is vital for oil exports and trade between Asia and Europe.

The Houthis’ renewed escalation could prompt international response, similar to December 2023 when the U.S. Department of Defense launched “Operation Prosperity Guardian” — a multinational mission to safeguard Red Sea shipping. Participating countries included the UK, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain, conducting joint patrols in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

A March 2025 report indicated that recent U.S. strikes on Yemen targeted Houthi missile launch platforms being transported to coastal positions, rebel command centers, and served as a warning to Iran that it could be next.

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