The Houthis have announced a blockade of the Red Sea
The Yemeni group Ansar Allah has announced a complete ban on the passage through the Red Sea for vessels linked to Israel. The Houthis have thus announced new restrictions on maritime navigation in the region. Group representatives also threatened further escalation amid a possible intensification of conflicts involving Israel, the U.S., and Iran.
“We are announcing a complete and absolute ban on Israeli maritime navigation in the Red Sea and consider all hostile movements to be legitimate military targets for our Armed Forces,” the Houthis stated.
The group also threatened further escalation in the event of an escalation of conflicts involving Israel, the U.S., and Iran. Specifically, this refers to the situation in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, and Iraq.
According to Reuters, the decision was made after Israel resumed strikes on Iran. Against this backdrop, concerns are growing about new disruptions to global trade and energy supplies.
The situation is complicated by the fact that the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked by Iran, which has already restricted a significant portion of oil exports from the Persian Gulf. Under these conditions, the Red Sea has become one of the key alternative routes for supplying energy resources to global markets.
Houthi representatives stated that the ban on Israeli ships is only a “first step.” In the event of further escalation, they threaten to extend the restrictions to any ships heading to Israel.
Representatives of the movement published a corresponding statement on their social media accounts.
Trump expressed his readiness to meet with Iran’s new supreme leader.
Earlier, Iran launched a missile strike on the Ali Al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait, where U.S. military personnel and contractors were stationed. The attack resulted in minor injuries among personnel and damage to American drones. The incident occurred amid U.S. efforts to negotiate an extension of the ceasefire with Tehran.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is alive and continues to interact with his inner circle, though he does so cautiously and primarily through written messages and intermediaries. Officials in Washington note that his activity has been increasing recently.
