Yemen’s Houthis Renew Attacks on Israeli Ships After Gaza Aid Deadline Expires
Yemen’s Houthi faction has declared an end to the temporary ban on Israeli ships following an expired deadline for humanitarian aid into Gaza. They have sworn to target such vessels in the Red Sea and related maritime areas while asserting their commitment to supporting Palestinian initiatives. Tensions persist after recent ceasefire negotiations, with no comments from Israel.
Yemen’s Houthi faction has announced the resumption of their ban on the passage of all Israeli ships in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and Bab al-Mandab Strait. This decision follows the expiration of a four-day deadline provided to Israel to facilitate humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The announcement was made by Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree via a televised address posted on his social media account.
Prior to the address, the Houthi Cabinet convened in Sanaa to evaluate the ultimatum directed at Israel, as reported by the Houthi-operated Saba news agency. The Houthi leadership conveyed its readiness to target Israeli vessels if aid to Gaza did not materialize by the deadline, emphasizing a unified preparedness across government sectors for possible developments in support of Palestinian efforts.
Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi reaffirmed on Monday the commitment of his forces to take action against Israel past the deadline. In his statement, Saree declared that “the Yemeni Armed Forces confirm the resumption of a ban on all Israeli ships in the designated operational zone,” which includes crucial maritime areas. He cautioned that any Israeli ship that violates this ban would be attacked within the specified operational regions until Gaza crossings are reopened to humanitarian aid.
To date, Israel has not publicly responded to the threats issued by the Houthis. This escalation follows the conclusion of a ceasefire phase in Gaza, after which Israel closed all crossings, thereby blocking aid. The Israeli Prime Minister seeks to extend the ceasefire phase, aiming for more hostage releases while avoiding broader commitments. In contrast, Hamas demands adherence to existing terms and calls for renewed negotiations for a complete Israeli withdrawal and the end of hostilities.
In recent months, the Houthis have directed missile and drone attacks towards Israeli targets and Israeli-affiliated vessels, sometimes hitting Israeli territory directly, framing these actions as solidarity with Gaza. This conflict has led Israel to conduct airstrikes on Houthi positions, a cycle of retaliation paused during a ceasefire agreement initiated in January. Since October 2023, the violence has resulted in over 48,500 fatalities, primarily among women and children in Gaza.
The Houthi group’s renewed threats against Israeli shipping highlight tensions in the region following the expiration of a humanitarian aid deadline for Gaza. Their readiness to strike Israeli vessels and the lack of Israeli response further complicate the conflict dynamics influenced by recent ceasefire negotiations. The ongoing violence has resulted in significant casualties in Gaza, underlining the dire situation and the urgent necessity for humanitarian aid and resolution.
Original Source: www.aa.com.tr
