The Yemen-based, Iran-aligned, Houthi military group has said that it would target any ships heading to Israeli ports if it is within their range.
Military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a televised speech on Friday May 3rd that “we will target any ships heading to Israeli ports in the Mediterranean Sea in any area we are able to reach”.
The leader of the Houthi movement called for a further escalation of the attacks on shipping, He cited the potential Israeli military attack on the city of Rafah.
“The Yemeni armed forces announce the beginning of the implementation of the fourth stage of escalation,” Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree announced in a televised speech and in posting on social media. He said it was effective immediately from “the moment of this statement.” The statement said they were targeting all ships “violating the ban on Israeli navigation,” and heading to Israeli ports in the Mediterranean. They vowed attacks in “any reachable area,” within their range.
If that includes the Eastern Mediterranean, that would require a range of nearly 1,200 miles. Last week a Houthi drone appeared to have struck the MSC Orion when it was between 300nm and 400nm south of Yemen in the Indian Ocean.
The Houthi also threatened to expand their attacks to “all ships and companies that are related to supplying and entering [Israeli ports] of any nationality if a military operation is launched against Rafah” in southern Gaza.
Last week the Houthis claimed that since November 2023 they had attacked 107 ships, launching 606 ballistic missiles and drones.
Last week US CENTCOM reported downing three aerial drones on May 2nd and a surface drone on April 30th. EUNAVFOR’s Aspides operation reported that on April 29th Italian frigate Fasan downed multiple attacks on a merchant ship.
