Houthis resume Red Sea attacks after US-Israeli strikes on Iran

Saturday 28 February 2026 - 11:37

By: Dakir Madiha

Houthis resume Red Sea attacks after US-Israeli strikes on Iran

Yemen’s Houthi movement announced plans to restart drone and missile attacks in the Red Sea and against Israel following coordinated U.S. and Israeli military operations inside Iran. Two senior Houthi officials confirmed to the Associated Press that preparations were underway, adding that retaliation could begin within hours. The group said its decision was made in direct response to what it called “aggression” against Tehran.

The move ends a ceasefire that had suspended Houthi assaults on shipping since May 2025. That agreement, brokered by Oman, paused hostilities between the United States and the Houthis after Washington agreed to halt airstrikes on Yemen in exchange for an end to maritime attacks. The group also stopped targeting Israel after a truce reached during the Gaza war last October.

The latest escalation follows the U.S.-Israeli joint operation launched early Friday under codenames “Roaring Lion” and “Operation Epic Fury.” Explosions were reported in Tehran, Isfahan, and other Iranian cities. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the strikes aimed to neutralize threats from Iran’s government, while President Trump declared that “major combat operations” had begun.

The return of Houthi attacks on vessels raises fresh concerns for global shipping. Between 2023 and 2025, the group struck over 100 commercial ships in the Red Sea, disrupting around 12 percent of the world’s maritime trade that passes through the Suez Canal. A brief resumption of hostilities in July 2025 resulted in the sinking of the cargo ship Magic Seas, killing three crew members. The renewed threat comes amid rising fears of wider Middle Eastern conflict and possible energy market instability.