Yemen’s Houthi, formally identifying as the Yemeni Armed Forces, have initiated Phase 4 of their naval blockade strategy, announcing that any vessel linked to Israel—regardless of nationality—can now be attacked. According to the group’s military spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, the new phase marks a major escalation in their maritime campaign in solidarity with Gaza and aims to weaken Israel’s economic and strategic reach.
• The updated rules of engagement, revealed in a recent statement, empower Houthi forces to target ships owned, operated, flagged, or otherwise affiliated with Israeli ports or companies, even if re-flagged under different nationalities.
• The move follows a temporary lull after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in May 2025. The Houthis insisted that the truce did not affect their blockade against Israel-linked shipping.
• Recent attacks include the sinking of two vessels—Magic Seas and Eternity C—in the Red Sea. The Eternity C sinking resulted in multiple fatalities and hostages taken, as some crew remain captive.
• A surge of Houthi missile and drone strikes has already disrupted the Port of Eilat, Israel’s only Red Sea harbor, leading to a near-total shutdown, with losses estimated at millions of shekels monthly.
Since late 2023, the Houthis have intensified maritime attacks in support of the Palestinian cause, targeting ships suspected of Israeli affiliation, including U.S. and UK-flagged vessels. What began as selective targeting gradually expanded into widespread disruption of Red Sea shipping lanes.
Though a ceasefire from May 2025 temporarily paused direct attacks on non-Israeli ships, the Houthis emphasized that their blockade of Israel-related maritime traffic would persist. Phase 4 formalizes that approach, rejecting evasive actions like re-flagging or ownership transfer.
• ⛴️ Major shipping lines have rerouted vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, avoiding the Red Sea and Suez Canal, increasing transit costs and delays.
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• ???? The crisis has undermined maritime security, prompting joint naval missions by global coalitions under Operation Prosperity Guardian and EU Operation Aspides.
• ???? Israel’s Red Sea port of Eilat faces financial collapse, with commercial activity falling by up to 90% and mounting liabilities reported by local business authorities.
The Houthis framed the blockade as a legitimate military measure in support of Palestinians—warning the world that no attempt to alter vessel affiliations will nullify Israeli ties in their eyes.
The renewed escalation signals a broader strategy to increase pressure on Israel and destabilize maritime logistics, potentially inviting further military responses from Israel, the U.S., and allied navies seen as protecting commercial routes.
While the Red Sea remains a vital artery for global trade, the Houthis’ hardened tactics and Phase 4 implementation introduce new threats amid already fragile regional dynamics.