Yemen’s Houthi movement has threatened to impose a full blockade on Israeli shipping through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, warning that any Israeli vessel attempting to pass through the strategic waterway could be targeted.
Houthi officials say the group possesses a wide range of military capabilities to enforce the blockade, including ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles, naval mines, and coordinated drone attacks. The group claims it has previously disrupted Israeli maritime traffic in the Red Sea and targeted vessels linked to Israel during earlier rounds of conflict.
According to Houthi representatives, the movement is prepared to expand its operations if necessary. Officials warned that any Israeli attack on Yemen would trigger further escalation, potentially leading to attacks on additional Israeli and U.S. assets across the region. The Bab al-Mandab Strait is one of the world’s most important shipping routes, connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
The latest threat comes amid growing regional tensions following the recent exchange of attacks between Iran and Israel. Meanwhile, Hamas issued a statement praising both Iran and Yemen for what it described as their response to Israeli military operations in Lebanon. The Palestinian group said it “highly values” the actions taken by Tehran and the Houthis, while accusing Israel of fueling instability across the region through its military campaigns in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran.
One thought on “Houthis Threaten Full Naval Blockade of Israeli Shipping”