Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have escalated their campaign against merchant ships, announcing they will target vessels owned by any company trading with Israeli ports, regardless of nationality. The move, described as the “fourth phase” of their naval blockade, aims to disrupt Israel’s maritime trade in solidarity with Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Houthis’ attacks, which began in November 2023, have already disrupted $1 trillion in annual Red Sea commerce, forcing many ships to reroute around Africa.

In a televised statement on Sunday, the Houthis warned that ships linked to companies dealing with Israel will be attacked anywhere within their reach, regardless of destination. They urged nations to pressure Israel to end its Gaza operations and lift the blockade to avoid further escalation.

Since 2023, the Houthis have targeted over 100 vessels with missiles, drones, and naval attacks, sinking four, including the recent Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned Magic Seas and Eternity C. The latter attack killed four crew members and saw 11 taken captive, while all 22 Magic Seas crew were rescued.

The Houthis paused attacks during a brief January 2025 ceasefire but resumed after U.S.-led airstrikes in March. A May deal with the U.S. halted strikes in exchange for stopping attacks on non-Israel-linked ships, but the Houthis clarified this excluded Israel-aligned targets.

Experts suggest Iran’s influence, via arms and advisors, drives these operations, though Tehran denies direct control. The escalation coincides with regional tensions, including U.S. economic concerns and India’s rare earth shortages, highlighting the broader impact on global trade.

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