Yemen’s Houthi rebels have announced a sharp escalation in their maritime campaign against Israel, declaring that they will strike ships operated by any company involved with Israeli ports, regardless of nationality or destination, reported The Hindu.

This marks the start of what the group calls the “fourth phase” of its naval operation.

The Houthis said they had “decided to escalate their military support operations and begin implementing the fourth phase of the naval blockade“ against Israel as per their late Sunday (27 July) statement.

Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, the Iran-backed group has attacked dozens of merchant vessels, claiming solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Their campaign has disrupted global trade through the Red Sea, a key shipping route for around $1 trillion in annual goods flow.

The Houthis warned, “We will target all ships belonging to any company that deals with the ports of the Israeli enemy, regardless of the nationality of that company, and in any location within the reach of our armed forces.”

They added that countries must pressure Israel to stop the war in Gaza and lift its blockade on the Palestinian territory “if they want to avoid this escalation.”

Earlier this month, Houthi attacked and sank two Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned ships — Magic Seas and Eternity C The second attack killed four crew members and led to 11 captives.

Between November 2023 and December 2024, Houthis struck over 100 ships using missiles and drones. A May 2025 deal with the US paused airstrikes, but the rebels reserved the right to attack Israel-linked targets.

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Houthis escalate naval campaign: All ships linked to Israel now targets

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have declared an aggressive new phase in their campaign against Israel, vowing to target any vessel owned by companies doing business with Israeli ports, regardless of the ships’ nationality or destination.

In a televised announcement late on July 27, Houthi military spokesman Ameen Hayyan proclaimed the initiation of the “fourth phase” of their naval blockade against Israel. This dramatic escalation marks a turning point in a maritime campaign that has already paralyzed vital shipping lanes in the Red Sea and cost several lives.

“This phase includes targeting all ships belonging to any company that deals with the ports of the Israeli enemy, regardless of the nationality of that company, and in any location within the reach of our armed forces,” Hayyan said in his statement.

The announcement further deepens regional instability, as the Iran-aligned rebel group intensifies its support for the Palestinian cause amid Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza. It also underscores the Houthis’ willingness to expand the geographic scope of their attacks, targeting ships in waters far beyond the Red Sea.

The Houthis began attacking commercial shipping in late 2023, initially claiming their strikes were symbolic acts of solidarity with Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas conflict. Since November 2023, according to Reuters, the group has attacked more than 100 ships using drones, ballistic missiles, and fast attack boats. Four ships have been sunk, one was seized, and at least eight seafarers have lost their lives.

The group’s targets have included vessels with tenuous or indirect links to Israel, often flagged under different nations but owned by companies believed to maintain commercial relationships with Israeli ports.

Two recent high-profile attacks – both in July – saw the Houthis target Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carriers Eternity C and Magic Seas. The attack on Eternity C was particularly deadly, resulting in four fatalities and the capture of 11 crew members. Meanwhile, all 22 crew members of Magic Seas were rescued just before the vessel sank.

This surge in aggression suggests a pivot from symbolic strikes to strategic disruptions of global commerce – with real and deadly consequences.

The Houthis’ naval campaign is threatening a trade artery that carries nearly 12% of global maritime commerce. The Red Sea – particularly the Bab el-Mandeb Strait – connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean via the Suez Canal. Roughly $1 trillion worth of goods passes through these waters annually.

Since the attacks began, shipping companies have been rerouting vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, adding thousands of miles and several weeks to delivery schedules. This has led to sharp increases in freight costs, global supply chain delays, and heightened insurance premiums for any ship daring to traverse the Red Sea corridor.

Now, with the Houthis broadening their target list to include any company linked to Israeli commerce, insurers and shipping firms face an even murkier risk landscape.

In his address, Hayyan emphasized that the group’s actions are not driven by indiscriminate aggression but are part of a calculated strategy to pressure Israel and its allies to end the Gaza war and lift the blockade on the Palestinian territory.

“Countries must pressure the Israeli enemy to stop the war in Gaza and lift its blockade on the Palestinian territory if they want to avoid this escalation,” he said.

The group has consistently framed its maritime attacks as a response to what it sees as international complicity in Israel’s actions in Gaza. The blockade, imposed by Israel and Egypt since Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, is a recurring point of contention in the region. By targeting global shipping interests, the Houthis appear to be attempting to raise the economic cost of supporting Israel.

The escalation comes just months after a tentative agreement between the United States and the Houthis. In May 2025, the US reportedly struck a deal with the rebels: the Houthis would cease maritime attacks, and Washington would end its airstrike campaign – which had begun under President Donald Trump in late 2024 after a sharp spike in Houthi attacks.

However, the Houthis insisted the agreement did not prohibit attacks on companies or ships they perceived as aligned with Israel. That caveat now appears to be the loophole through which they’ve resumed and intensified their campaign.

Western naval coalitions, including the US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian, have increased patrols and launched defensive operations to protect vessels in the region. Despite this, the Houthis’ growing sophistication – particularly in drone and missile warfare – has made deterrence increasingly difficult.

Israel itself has largely refrained from direct confrontation with the Houthis, focusing instead on operations in Gaza and northern border threats from Hezbollah. However, the Houthis’ bold declaration to target any ship with Israeli business ties may force Israel’s hand or at least prompt a rethinking of how to ensure maritime security.

The Houthis’ enhanced capabilities are widely believed to be the result of sustained military and financial support from Iran. Tehran’s backing of the group has long been a concern for Gulf nations and Western powers, who view the Houthis as a critical node in Iran’s “Axis of Resistance,” which also includes Hezbollah, various Iraqi militias, and Hamas.

Iran has not directly commented on the Houthis’ latest declaration, but it continues to maintain that regional instability stems from Israeli aggression and Western support for it. The risk of the conflict escalating into a broader regional war remains ever-present.

With the Houthis showing no signs of de-escalation – and in fact doubling down on their offensive posture – the Red Sea is likely to remain a dangerous zone for the foreseeable future. Major shipping companies are expected to continue avoiding the region, while insurers may begin to blacklist broader swaths of the maritime industry tied to Israeli commerce.

Diplomatic efforts to calm the waters have so far yielded limited results. Unless there is a meaningful breakthrough in the Israel-Hamas conflict or a global consensus emerges to isolate and contain the Houthis, the group is poised to continue using the high seas as a battleground in the geopolitical struggle over Gaza.

For the world’s shippers, seafarers, and policymakers, this marks the dawn of a new era of maritime insecurity – one in which ideology, not geography, determines the rules of engagement.

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Yemen’s Houthi group announced a new phase in its maritime campaign against Israel on Sunday, declaring it will attack any vessel operated by companies that conduct business with Israeli ports, regardless of the ship’s destination or flag. The threat marks a significant escalation in the group’s ongoing operations in the Red Sea, which they claim are in response to Israel’s blockade and military actions in Gaza.

In a televised statement aired by the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, military spokesperson Yahya Sare’e said, “This escalation includes targeting all ships belonging to any company that deals with Israeli ports, regardless of their nationality and wherever they may be, within our forces’ reach.” He warned that companies must halt their dealings with Israeli ports immediately or face consequences.

Sare’e added, “The Yemeni Armed Forces call on all countries, if they want to avoid this escalation, to pressure the enemy to halt its aggression and lift the blockade on the Gaza Strip.”

The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, have targeted Israeli-linked vessels in the Red Sea since November 2023. Earlier this month, they claimed responsibility for sinking two commercial ships—Magic Seas and Eternity C. In 2024 alone, the group has reportedly attacked and sunk four vessels. In 2023, they seized the Galaxy Leader and held its crew for months before releasing them through Omani mediation; the ship itself remains in Houthi custody.

The Houthis say their actions are part of an ongoing campaign to support Palestinians and pressure Israel to end its blockade of Gaza.

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Yemen’s Houthi rebels said they will target merchant ships belonging to any company that does business with Israeli ports, regardless of nationality, as part of what they say is a new phase of their operations against Israel.

The Iran-backed Houthis launched a campaign targeting ships in response to the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip, saying they were doing so in solidarity with the Palestinians. Their attacks over the past two years have upended shipping in the Red Sea, through which about $1 trillion of goods passes each year.

In an announcement late Sunday night, the Houthis said they had “decided to escalate their military support operations and begin implementing the fourth phase of the naval blockade” against Israel.

They warned that they would target “all ships belonging to any company that deals with the ports of the Israeli enemy, regardless of the nationality of that company, and in any location within the reach of our armed forces.” The vessels would be targeted regardless of their destination, they added.

The group said countries should pressure Israel to stop the war in Gaza and lift its blockade on the Palestinian territory “if they want to avoid this escalation.”

READ MORE: Yemen’s Houthi rebels attack Red Sea ship, killing 3, after claiming they sank another

Earlier this month, the Houthis attacked and sank two Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carriers – the Magic Seas and the Eternity C. The attack on the latter killed four crew members and 11 others were taken captive. All 22 crew members of the Magic Seas were rescued before the ship sank.

The group released a video on Monday evening, showing the 11 captured Eternity C crew members. The footage, the first of its kind since the Houthi attacks started, shows the crew being taken off the boat as well as interviews with the captives.

From November 2023 to December 2024, the Houthis targeted more than 100 ships with missiles and drones. The rebels stopped their attacks during a brief ceasefire in the war and later became the target of an intense, weekslong airstrike campaign ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump.

In May, the United States announced a deal with the Houthis to end the airstrikes in return for an end to shipping attacks, although the rebel group said the agreement did not include halting attacks on targets it believed were aligned with Israel.

Sanaa, July 28: Yemen’s Houthi armed group said in a statement that it will begin targeting “all foreign ships linked to Israel… regardless of their destination,” citing retaliation for what it called Israel’s “blockade and starvation” campaign against Gaza.

“This escalation includes targeting all ships belonging to any company that deals with Israeli ports, regardless of their nationality and wherever they may be, within our forces’ reach,” Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in the statement aired by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV.

“We warn all companies to cease their dealings with Israeli ports, starting the hour this statement is issued,” he said, calling on all countries to pressure Israel to halt its aggression and lift the blockade on the Gaza Strip “if they wish to avoid this escalation.”

Earlier this month, the Houthis claimed responsibility for sinking two commercial vessels — Magic Seas and Eternity C — in the Red Sea. In 2024 alone, the group has attacked and sunk four ships. In 2023, it seized the Galaxy Leader and detained its crew, who were later released through Omani mediation, though the ship remains in Houthi custody, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Houthi group, which controls much of northern Yemen, has been targeting Israel and Israeli-linked vessels in the Red Sea since November 2023 to show solidarity with Palestinians, as acts of solidarity with Palestinians and an effort to pressure Israel to end its military operations in Gaza.