The Yemeni Houthi militia has also reacted to the renewed escalation of the conflict in the Gaza Strip.
If Israel does not resume humanitarian aid to Gaza by Thursday, ships in the Red Sea are to be attacked again.
A televised speech by leader Abdul-Malik al-Huthi stated: “If the Israeli enemy continues to prevent the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip after the first four days, (…) we will resume our naval operations. The reaction follows the Israeli government’s announcement on March 2 that it would stop all humanitarian aid to Gaza. Hamas, which is active there, had rejected an extension of the ceasefire.
Over 100 attacks by Houthis
More than 100 merchant ships have been attacked in the Red Sea since 2023. Although the Houthi claimed to only target shipping companies with links to Israel, other companies have also been targeted. Some ships sank after being attacked by the militia, including the “Rubymar” in March and the “Tutor” in June. Unmanned drone boats were also increasingly used, as in the attack on the oil tanker “Chios Lion” in July. As a result of the conflict, numerous shipping companies decided to avoid the Red Sea in favor of the Cape of Good Hope, which led to enormous congestion in global trade. Revenue from the Suez Canal also collapsed: Egypt lost around $6 billion as a result of the attacks.
