Will target all ships linked to Israel, say Yemen's Houthis
The Iran-backed Houthis launched a campaign targeting merchant vessels in response to the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip, saying they were doing so in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Their attacks over the past two years have upended shipping in the Red Sea, through which $1 trillion of goods usually passes each year.
In an announcement late Sunday (July 27, 2025) night, the Houthis said they had 'decided to escalate their military support operations and begin implementing the fourth phase of the naval blockade' against Israel.
They warned that they would target 'all ships belonging to any company that deals with the ports of the Israeli enemy, regardless of the nationality of that company, and in any location within the reach of our armed forces.' The vessels would be targeted regardless of their destination, they added.
The group said countries should pressure Israel to stop the war in Gaza and lift its blockade on the Palestinian territory 'if they want to avoid this escalation.'
Earlier this month, the Houthis attacked and sank two Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carriers – the Magic Seas and the Eternity C. The attack on the latter left four crew members dead and 11 more were taken captive, while all 22 crew members of the Magic Seas were rescued before the ship sank.
From November 2023 to December 2024, the Houthis targeted more than 100 ships with missiles and drones. The rebels stopped their attacks during a brief ceasefire in the war and later became the target of an intense, weekslong airstrike campaign ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump.
In May, the U.S. announced a deal with the Houthis to end the airstrikes in return for an end to shipping attacks, although the rebel group said the agreement did not include halting attacks on targets it believed were aligned with Israel.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
6 minutes ago
- Time of India
US, China and Russia: Navigating the superpower trilemma
Today, Indian foreign policy discourse is mired in an important debate. Two key assumptions govern this debate: that New Delhi's ties with the US arguably constitute its most important relationship in the 21st century, and that any negotiations with Beijing are a signal of weakness. India-US relations are undergoing a tense phase. The tensions have primarily been instigated by US President Donald Trump's decision to impose a 25% tariff on India, and an additional, 'unspecified penalty' for continuing to buy energy resources from Russia. His social media comments have gone so far as to refer to both India and Russia as 'dead economies.' Naturally, this has called into question the time-tested nature of the partnership in the face of the 'China challenge'. With the US-China equation changing, India has to balance ties with both as well as work towards its own national interests Speaking of China, after a long period of severed dialogue, postures on both sides have slightly relaxed, though the road to stability vis-à-vis the border issue, or even China's backing of Pakistan, is long and winding. Nonetheless, communication and negotiation between the two neighbours is underway, and is perhaps a welcome break from the silent-but-violent treatment. Besides the volatility in New Delhi's ties with the two superpowers, there exists a bilateral dynamic between the US and China, which vitally impacts India. An intense back-and-forth of escalating tariffs ensued between the two economic giants earlier this year. Yet, Trump's recent statements seem to suggest that a trade deal with Beijing is in the works. So how does that affect India? So far, India has believed that Trump's continued dissatisfaction with Beijing will be a core aspect of mutual convergence between itself and the US. This definitely was the case under the Joe Biden administration. But if anything is certain about Trump, it is that nothing, indeed, is certain. So, the US and China may not be entering a friendly phase, but they sure are inching toward some semblance of stability. The dynamics of this fateful triangle require that India think in its national interests— sustained economic growth and security of its territory from both external and internal threats. And as PM Modi himself remarked in an interview in 2023, '[The] foremost guiding principle in foreign affairs is our country's national interest.' This begs the question: How should New Delhi balance the nuances of its ties with the US and China and the repercussions of their own thaw, while working to achieve its national interests? One way is not to believe that negotiations with China signal weakness. This anxiety is likely to play up as New Delhi and Beijing negotiate. Most recently, India has eased tourism rules, while China has opened up access for Indians to undertake the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. To a great degree, India's geographical, economic and military constraints require that communication with Beijing continue for sustainable security to be achieved. This is not to say that India should give up its confident posture, or discontinue investments in de-risking or border security. It is also not a call for it to shed its affinity for the US. But the steps toward a thaw with Beijing — high-level political conversations, ministerial-level dialogues, and working mechanism consultations on the border — are necessary. And at a time when Trump seems to be prepared to meet the 'China challenge' alone, India must figure its own way out to do the same. Second, is to evaluate costs when it comes to fulfilling its energy requirements through purchases from Russia. The affordability of such purchases, and the historic nature of ties with Moscow (especially in defence), make it a vital partner to New Delhi. However, Trump is prioritising reciprocal access to the Indian market over having a vital partner in the Indo-Pacific. And in a world where the US is vastly more powerful than India — or in most aspects, even China — much of what Trump says, goes. So the question is, where is the common ground between India not shedding its friendship with Russia, not risking insurmountable tariffs from the US, and not enabling China's unchecked regional power? The intertwined interests of economic growth and stable security seem orthogonal in this situation. But it is important to face facts. If it wasn't buying oil from Russia, India would still get the tariff slap. If there was great openness in the Indian dairy and agricultural markets, which Trump consistently demands, there would still be an 'unspecified penalty' for trading with Russia. So, the acknowledgement that there is no absolute win-win, is essential. It boils down to assessing what is more harmful — not making any adjustments to the trade numbers with Russia, or the US. It is also important to acknowledge the trade-offs — if there is a significant reduction in the imports of oil and/or defence equipment from Russia, and the US becomes the preferred alternative source of imports, Moscow may become unabashed in its support for China in its disputes with India. If trade with Russia continues as is, India shall face agonistic tariffs under Donald Trump and an overall lack of support in regional geopolitics. It is indeed true that India's tariffs continue to remain high, market openness is low, and domestic innovation and production capability face challenges. Hence, is the first step to addressing the above mentioned dilemma to take difficult steps towards phased openness? Most likely. It may assuage Trump's concerns about the US's trade deficit, without creating many troubles in India-Russia relations. Finally, the worrisome trend of self-reliance across the globe is leaving fewer alternatives for India to replace its dependencies on the US, China, or Russia. Where it gets affordable imports, it faces controversial dilemmas. Where it sees a strong partner, it faces chiding and deriding. So, moving forward, even as the willingness to negotiate diplomatically must continue, India must invest in its own trajectory toward economic and military modernisation. Illustration credit: Illustration by Chad Crowe (USA) Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
Time of India
34 minutes ago
- Time of India
Trumped: Indian basmati may lose out to Pak, as 25% tariff gives neighbour 6% edge
1 2 Amritsar: US President Donald Trump's 25% tariff on all things Indian has dealt a double blow to Indian basmati exporters. Not only does it give Pakistan basmati a 6% tariff advantage, but it also comes at a time when the India-UK Free Trade Agreement talks offered no relief for basmati. US tariff on Pakistan stands at 19%. This widened gap threatens India's competitiveness against its traditional rival in international markets. "Pakistan has already got the 6% edge, which will make it difficult for us (Indian basmati exporters) to compete in the international market," said Tejinder Singh, CEO of Amar Singh Chawla Wala, makers of the Lal Qila basmati brand. "It makes it tough for us to compete globally, erasing any level playing field," he said. The US hardly consumes more than 10% of the basmati that is cultivated and exported from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, he said. But the 6% gap is "significant" in commodity trade and is likely to drive up prices for consumers abroad as Indian exporters will struggle to maintain market share against their traditional rival, he pointed out. Indian basmati trade was on the upswing till now. India exported 52.4 lakh metric tons of basmati, compared to 5.45 lakh metric tons by Pakistan in the 2023-24 fiscal. In 2024-25, Indian exports rose to 60.7 lakh metric tons, while Pakistan's saw a nominal increase, said Taranjit. The 25% traffic may prove to be a speedbreaker. Arvinderpal Singh, president of Punjab Rice Miller Exporters Association, said that the imposition of a 25% tariff by US will have a widespread impact — from growers to consumers. "We are directly competing with Pakistan, and they will be in a position to supply at lower rates than Indian exporters due to the lower tariff," he pointed out, adding that consumer nations are likely to opt for Pakistani basmati, with Thailand as the second preference. "If our sales decline, we will have to reduce our purchases, which will ultimately affect farmers, and they too will bear the brunt," he said. Singh suggested that the Indian govt should urge US administration to reduce the tariff on basmati, or at least ensure a level playing field with Pakistan so that Indian exporters can compete fairly in the international market. Taranjit said that Indian basmati exporters are already suffering with no relief in the India-UK Free Trade Agreement, and the recent imposition of a 25% tariff by the US will only leave a lasting impact on the Indian basmati rice exports. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Economic Times
36 minutes ago
- Economic Times
‘Haven't eaten for days, forced to dig his own grave': Family of Hamas hostage releases ‘propaganda' video with message for Netanyahu
Synopsis The family of Evyatar David, a 24-year-old hostage, released distressing video footage showing his severe starvation in Hamas captivity. The videos, dated July 27 and released August 2, depict David emaciated and documenting his meager meals, often consisting of just lentils or nothing at all. David emotionally appealed to Prime Minister Netanyahu, expressing feeling abandoned. Reuters Demonstrators take part in a protest to demand the immediate release of hostages held in Gaza since the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas and to end the war, in Tel Aviv, Israel, August 2, 2025. REUTERS/Ammar Awad A video footage of a 24-year-old hostage, Evyatar David, was released by his family in which he was seen starving for food and facing severe hardships. It was the second 'propaganda video,' which was made public a day after Hamas published what it claimed was a 'sign of life' from the captive. The initial footage, which was posted Friday (August 1, 2025), was released with the consent of the family and was confirmed by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum a day the video, David appears severely emaciated, his bones protruding beneath his skin, according to Ynet News. He appears to be sitting in a tunnel, documenting his daily meals on a handwritten chart. On some days, it says 'no food,' and on others, just 'lentils.' The family on Saturday (August 2, 2025) also released a second video dated July 27, in which David, visibly weakened and gaunt, says he has been without proper food or water for an extended period and claims he was forced by his captors to dig his own grave. The family of the hostage released a second video on Saturday, August 2, 2025, dated July 27. In the footage, David, looking frail and thin, says he's gone a long time without proper food or water and claims his captors forced him to dig his own grave.'I don't know what I'm going to eat. I haven't eaten in days,' he said, as quoted by Ynet News. 'I've been living in a really difficult situation and have been for many months,' he further stated. Even though his captors likely dictated his words, David's appearance clearly shows his health is declining. 'I'm getting thinner and weaker by the day,' he said in the video. 'No meat, no chicken, no fish. Almost no bread. On Friday, July 4, I didn't eat anything. I'm writing everything down,' he added, referring to the food chart. David was seen reading aloud from the chart in the footage: 'Lentils, lentils, beans. On July 16 and 17, I ate nothing—two days in a row. Then more lentils, again lentils. On July 20, nothing again. Then lentils, and again nothing. Then again nothing, and again nothing. This can is for two days, just to keep me alive.' While addressing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly, David made an emotional appeal, saying that he feels that he has been abandoned. 'I feel that I have been abandoned... I've been told that in Israel, the government cares for prisoners and cares for anyone imprisoned by the enemy. I feel that I have been abandoned by you and this government,' he said. 'Everything I was taught was simply not true,' he added, as quoted by Ynet News.'What I'm doing now is digging my own grave,' he adds. 'Each day, my body grows weaker and weaker. I'm walking directly to my grave. This is the grave where I think I'm going to be buried. Time is running out. You are the only ones who can end this, [so I can] be released and be able to sleep in my bed with my family.'In a strong statement against Hamas, David's family accused it of intentionally starving him for propaganda purposes. 'We are forced to witness our beloved Evyatar, our son and brother, being deliberately and cynically starved in Hamas tunnels in Gaza. He is a living skeleton, buried alive,' the statement said. 'Our son has only days left to live in his current state. Hamas is using Evyatar as a live experiment in a grotesque hunger campaign.'The family called the alleged starvation campaign 'one of the most horrifying acts the world has seen,' as quoted by and appealed to Israel and the international community to intervene. 'Israel and the international community must stand against Hamas' cruelty and ensure Evyatar receives immediate nutrition,' they said. 'This intentional starvation and abuse for propaganda purposes violates even the lowest standards of humanitarian law and basic human decency.'
