Houthis threaten attacks against Israel-linked vessels in the Red Sea

June 9 ------ Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement said that it had launched a missile attack on Israel and declared a “complete and total ban” on Israeli maritime navigation in the Red Sea, warning that Israeli-linked vessels would again be considered legitimate military targets.

The announcement raised concerns over renewed disruption to the Red Sea shipping route that had previously been heavily affected. In a statement, the group said it fired missiles at what it described as sensitive Israeli targets in the Jaffa area, claiming the strikes “achieved their objectives with precision.”

The Houthis said the attacks were carried out in response to Israeli military actions across several regional fronts, including Gaza, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, and Iran, and vowed to escalate operations in coordination with allied Iran-backed groups.

The missile launch marks the first confirmed Houthi strike on Israel since a fragile ceasefire began in early April. Israeli authorities said a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted and reported that air defenses were activated, with airspace temporarily closed during the incident.

The Houthis, who control large parts of northern Yemen including the capital Sanaa, have carried out repeated missile, drone, and maritime attacks against Israel and commercial shipping since October 2023, saying their campaign is in support of Palestinians in Gaza and other Iran-aligned groups.

Their previous campaign in the Red Sea forced many operators to divert routes around southern Africa, significantly increasing transit times and costs, and the latest threats revive fears of renewed instability in the region’s shipping lanes.

Source: safety4sea.com