In a significant escalation of hostilities, the Iran-backed Houthi militia, controlling northern Yemen, has issued a new threat to block any vessel sailing to Israeli ports.
This threat expands on their earlier warnings directed at ships passing through the Red and Arabian Seas.
The Houthi militia had previously declared their intention to target ships owned or operated by Israelis. They currently hold the Galaxy Leader, a commercial vessel hijacked last month with 25 crew members onboard.
None of the crew members are Israeli
According to Galaxy Maritime, the company that owns the vessel, none of the crew members are Israeli.
The latest statement, issued by Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea, marks a notable intensification in the militia’s campaign against Israel, specifically citing the Israeli military’s actions in Gaza as the driving force behind their decision.
Sarea stated that the Houthis would block the passage of ships sailing to Israel, regardless of nationality, unless Gaza’s needs for food and medicine were met.
The extent to which the Houthis can carry out this threat remains uncertain, as their capabilities often appear limited compared to their rhetoric.
Despite an increase in military power in recent years, the majority of missile and drone attacks launched by the Houthis on Israeli and Saudi targets have been intercepted.
The Galaxy Leader was Hijacked in the Red Sea
The Galaxy Leader was hijacked in the Red Sea in November and subsequently taken to the coast of Yemen, where it remains.
A video of the hijacking, verified by The New York Times, depicted at least 10 armed men on the vessel’s deck, descending from a military helicopter hovering just above.
In their latest statement, the militia emphasized their commitment to the safety of shipping and the flow of global trade through the Red and Arabian Seas, except for ships tied to Israel or carrying goods to Israeli ports.
Galaxy Maritime reassured that the crew, unrelated to the regional situation, is being treated as well as possible under the circumstances.
The company encouraged nations with citizens onboard the hijacked vessel to redouble their efforts to secure their release.
The Houthi militia’s control over northern Yemen since 2014 and its alignment with Iran’s Axis of Resistance, which includes groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, further complicates the regional dynamics.