Yemen’s Houthi terror group said on Sunday it would target any ships belonging to companies that do business with Israeli ports, regardless of their nationalities, as part of what it called the fourth phase of its military operations against Israel.
In a televised statement, the Houthis’ military spokesperson warned that ships would be attacked if companies ignored their warnings, regardless of their destination.
Previously, the Iran-backed rebels have claimed to only attack ships directly tied to Israel through ownership or port calls.
“The Yemeni Armed Forces call on all countries, if they want to avoid this escalation, to pressure the enemy to halt its aggression and lift the blockade on the Gaza Strip,” he added.
The Houthis — whose slogan calls for “Death to America, Death to Israel, [and] a Curse on the Jews” — began attacking Israel and maritime traffic in November 2023, a month after the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre that triggered the war in Gaza.
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Though the Houthis claimed to only target ships with ties to Israel, monitors say that was not the case.
They also regularly fire drones and missiles at Israel, most of which are shot down or have fallen short, including a missile on Friday that was intercepted, in what they say are acts of solidarity with Palestinians.
A handout picture released by Yemen’s Houthis on July 8, 2025, reportedly shows a view of damage to the Liberia-flagged bulk carrier Eternity C after it was attacked by the Iran-backed rebels at sea. (Ansar Allah Media Center / AFP)
In May, the US announced a surprise deal with the Houthis in which it agreed to stop a bombing campaign against them in return for an end to shipping attacks on US vessels, though the Houthis said the deal did not include a halt to attacking Israel. The new threat by the Houthis appeared to indicate that even US ships could be targeted.
After months of calm, the Houthis earlier this month renewed their attacks on cargo ships, sinking two vessels.
The Houthi campaign has upended shipping in the Red Sea, through which $1 trillion of goods usually passes a year.
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