Image credit: REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, led by Abdulmalik al-Houthi, announced a significant expansion of their target zone. In a televised speech on Thursday, al-Houthi declared that all ships heading for Israeli ports, not just those in the Red Sea, would now be subject to attack.
This escalation comes as the Houthis claim solidarity with Palestinians during the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Al-Houthi urged countries like China, Russia, and others in Asia and Europe to halt all cargo shipments to Israel.
The Houthis have a history of targeting Israel, the United States, and Britain. Al-Houthi specifically called for a complete halt to shipments destined for “occupied Palestinian ports,” emphasizing it’s in the “best interest” of all companies to avoid transporting goods to Israel, regardless of the route (Mediterranean Sea or elsewhere).
These attacks have already disrupted a critical trade route between Asia and Europe, forcing shipping companies to take longer, more expensive detours around southern Africa. This has driven up costs for both shipping and insurance.