Houthis to target Israel-bound ships in the Mediterranean Sea

Iran-aligned Houthi militants announced the implementation of the “fourth stage” of the aggression, targeting ships heading to Israeli ports through the Mediterranean Sea.

PHOTO: Aerial view of a large containership in motion. Getty Images

In a clear escalation of the Middle East conflict, the Yemen-based militia’s spokesperson Yahya Sare’e on Friday threatened that the group would extend its ongoing operations in critical trade routes beyond the Red Sea.

The ‘fourth stage’ of the operation will target “all ships heading to the ports of occupied Palestine [Israeli ports] from the Mediterranean Sea in any reachable area within our ample zone,” Sare’e said on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

This news has snapped hopes of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas and brought back supply concerns in key oil producing regions. 

“[Ongoing] negotiations in Cairo, which had seemed within reach of a ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas through last week, hit a roadblock over the weekend,” VANDA Insights’ founder and analyst Vandana Hari said.

The Houthis have launched several drones and airborne missiles toward commercial vessels as well as US naval ships transiting strategic waterways including the Red Sea, the Suez Canal, the Gulf of Aden, and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait since last November.

These attacks are in retaliation for Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip.

By Aparupa Mazumder 

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