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Yemen's Houthis Resume Attacks on Israeli Ships Over Gaza Aid Blockade

Wednesday 12 March 2025 - 09:10 By: Zahouani Ilham

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Yemen’s Houthi group has declared the renewal of attacks on Israeli vessels following the expiration of their ultimatum for Israel to permit aid deliveries into Gaza.

Late on Tuesday, the armed faction announced that it was reinstating a prohibition on the movement of Israeli ships through the Red Sea, citing Israel’s failure to meet the deadline they had set on Friday.

Aligned with Iran, the Houthis stated that this ban would take immediate effect, warning that “any Israeli ship attempting to breach the restriction will be targeted within the designated operational zone.”

The blockade extends beyond the Red Sea, covering the Arabian Sea, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden, according to the group’s statement.

The Houthis, who exert control over significant portions of Yemen, have been targeting the crucial maritime route in response to Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Their attacks have severely disrupted global trade, diverting substantial shipping traffic away from the Suez Canal, forcing vessels to take the much longer route around Africa.

The group had temporarily suspended its missile and drone assaults in January when a ceasefire was declared in Gaza. However, following Israel’s complete blockade of aid into Gaza on March 2—aimed at pressuring Hamas to release remaining hostages taken during its October 7, 2023 attack—the Houthis vowed to restart their attacks.

In their latest statement, the group reaffirmed that the assaults would persist until Israel permits humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Since November 2023, the Houthis have launched over 100 attacks on ships near Yemen’s coastline, framing their actions as solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Their campaign resulted in the sinking of two vessels, the seizure of another, and the deaths of at least four seafarers. Additionally, numerous maritime workers were taken hostage.

These attacks prompted military responses from the United States and the European Union, which deployed naval forces to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The US and UK have also conducted several airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.

Analysts suggest that these developments have significantly elevated the Houthis’ global standing, shifting them from a localized faction to a direct challenger of Israeli and Western interests.

Earlier this month, the United States officially designated the Houthi movement, known as Ansar Allah, as a “foreign terrorist organization.”