Houthi militants in Yemen warn that they will target merchant vessels belonging to any company associated with Israel, regardless of nationality, as part of what they call their next phase of a military campaign against Israel. The Tehran-backed Houthi rebels launched operations that target commercial ships in response to Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza in 2023.
The Houthis’ proclamation
The Houthis proclaim that the warning is a show of support for the Palestinian people in Gaza. Their attacks against merchant ships over the past two years have disrupted shipping in the Red Sea, which reportedly sees around $1 trillion in goods pass through it each year.
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On Sunday, July 27, the Houthis announced they had “decided to escalate their military support and begin implementing the fourth phase of the naval blockade” against Israel.
All ships associated with Israel under threat
The militants warned that they would attack “all ships belonging to any company that deals with ports of the Israeli enemy of the nationality of that company, and in any location within the reach of our armed forces.” The ships identified to be conducting business with Israel will be targeted regardless of the destination, the group added.
Pressure to end the war in Gaza
The Houthis urged international pressure on Israel to end the war in Gaza and lift its blockade on the enclave “if they want to avoid escalation.”
Earlier in July 2025, Houthi rebels struck and sank two Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned cargo ships – the Magic Seas and the Eternity C. The attack against the Eternity C killed four crew members, and 11 others were taken hostage. All 22 crew members on the Magic Sea were rescued before the vessel sank.
The Associated Press reported that between November 2023 and December 2024, the Houthis launched attacks against more than 100 vessels with missiles and drones. The militants paused their attacks amid a temporary ceasefire in Israel’s war against Hamas. Afterward, they were targeted in airstrikes ordered by President Donald Trump.
Trump’s airstrikes against Houthis
In May, the Trump administration announced a deal with the Houthis to halt airstrikes in exchange for the rebels stopping attacks on merchant ships. However, the Houthis claimed the deal didn’t include ending attacks on ships it suspects to be doing business with Israel.
