Yemen’s Iran-affiliated Houthi militia wants to expand its attacks on merchant ships off the country’s coast. The group’s leader, Abdel-Malik al-Houthi, said in a televised address on Thursday that they are relying on escalation in response to Israel’s escalation in the Gaza Strip.
So far, 48 ships have been attacked, Al-Masirah broadcaster reported. The Houthi leader also announced the use of underwater weapons. Rebel representatives recently emphasized that in addition to ships with connections to Israel, American and British ships should also be targeted.
The two states had carried out military strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen several times in response to the Houthi attacks. However, these failed in their aim to destroy the group’s capacity for further attacks, al-Houthi said.
Houthis prohibit the passage of ships
The Houthi militia had previously officially banned the passage of ships in the waters they controlled. According to its own information, the militia sent a letter on Thursday to shipping companies and insurance companies related to Israel, the US and Great Britain.
In it they ban passage through the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea if the transports are connected to Israel. It is the rebel group’s first formal letter to the shipping sector.
One of the most important shipping routes for world trade runs through Yemen, along which cargo ships from the Indian Ocean reach the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal in Egypt. In recent weeks, Yemeni rebels have repeatedly shot at merchant ships and warships in the Red Sea.
Source: Krone
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