Houthis threaten to target any ship trading at Israeli ports
In a televised statement, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree warned ships would be attacked if companies ignored their warnings, regardless of their destination. "The Yemeni armed forces call on all countries, if they want to avoid this escalation, to pressure the enemy to end its aggression and lift the blockade on the Gaza Strip," he said.
Since the start of Israel's war in Gaza in October 2023, the Iranian-backed Houthis have attacked ships passing off Yemen, often in the Red Sea, they believe are destined for or linked to Israel, claiming to act in solidarity with the Palestinians.
In May, the United States announced a surprise agreement with the Houthis under which they agreed to end a bombing campaign against Yemen in exchange for the halt of attacks on international shipping, although the rebels clarified that the deal did not include sparing Israel.
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