Houthis increase attacks on shipping in the Red Sea

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis have declared their intention to increase attacks on ships in the Red Sea and other waters, including the use of “submarine weapons,” in solidarity with Palestinians in the ongoing Gaza War. The group’s leader, Abdulmalik al-Houthi, stated that their operations in these waters will continue, escalate, and be effective, disrupting a route that accounts for about 12% of global shipping.

The Houthis have also issued a formal notice to the shipping industry banning ships affiliated with Israel, the United States, and Britain from sailing in the surrounding seas. This ban is in support of their military campaign to aid the Palestinians and could further drive up shipping costs. The attacks have already impacted shipping, with recent missile attacks on a Palau-flagged British ship and concerns about the fate of the cargo ship Rubymar, which was rammed on February 18.

Despite retaliatory strikes by U.S. and British forces, the Houthi group’s attacks are showing little sign of abating, with ongoing disruptions to maritime trade. The situation remains tense, with the Israeli military reporting the interception of a target in the Red Sea after sirens went off in the southern city of Eilat.

Source .