Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis vow to block Israeli ships from traversing Red Sea

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels declared on Monday they would ban Israeli maritime navigation in the Red Sea, a move that follows their earlier rocket attacks targeting central Israel. The military spokesperson for the Houthis, Yahya Saree, announced the ban, stating that any Israeli target would be attacked and warning that "escalation will be met with escalation, and our operations will intensify in accordance with developments."

Saree asserted that the Houthis took credit for strikes on central Israel under the principle of the "Unity of the Fronts." He stated these actions were in response to "Israeli aggression against Lebanon, Iran, and Gaza," and that "our forces launched a missile barrage at sensitive targets in 'occupied Jaffa.'" This declaration comes after air raid sirens sounded across large parts of Israel, triggered by Houthi rockets fired from Yemen toward the central region.

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escalation will be met with escalation, and our operations will intensify in accordance with developments.

The current escalation is a direct consequence of Iran's decision on Sunday to launch a direct strike against Israel, which Tehran described as retaliation for an Israeli raid on Hezbollah targets in Beirut. The Houthis' involvement signifies a broader coordinated offensive, with their morning missile launch adding to a succession of Iranian missile salvos. These attacks have prompted residents across various regions of Israel, including the Jordan Valley, Jerusalem, the greater Tel Aviv area, Beer Sheva, and parts of the West Bank, to seek shelter.

In response to the initial overnight attacks, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) conducted airstrikes on targets within Iran, including a petrochemical plant in Mahshahr. Rocket sirens have sounded repeatedly since early morning, first triggered by the Houthi launch from Yemen, followed by Iranian missile salvos. The Israeli Air Force initiated another wave of airstrikes inside Iran shortly after the first round of Iranian fire.

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under the principle of the 'Unity of the Fronts' and in response to Israeli aggression against Lebanon, Iran, and Gaza, our forces launched a missile barrage at sensitive targets in 'occupied Jaffa'.