Yemen Monitor/Newsroom:
The leader of Yemen’s Houthi group, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, stated on Thursday that his group will not permit the passage of any goods or shipments linked to Israel through the territorial waters they control. He affirmed that the decision to block Israeli navigation remains in effect and will continue.
In a televised speech, Al-Houthi clarified that the ban covers the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Arabian Sea. He emphasized that this measure is “firm and resolute” as long as the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip continues, as he put it.
He asserted that the decision has neither been canceled nor frozen, but rather remains in force. He added that recent events involved “monitoring violations by some companies,” referring to his group’s targeting of two vessels this week after a period of relative calm in maritime attacks.
The Houthi group claimed responsibility on Wednesday, for sinking the cargo ship “Eternity C” in the Red Sea, stating they rescued several crew members, provided them with medical care, and transported them to a safe location.
This is the second ship sunk by the group in less than four days, after their military media broadcast footage on Tuesday showing the targeting and sinking of the Liberian-flagged “Magic Seas,” managed by a Greek company, in an attack last Sunday off southwest Yemen.
The Houthis, who have controlled large areas of Yemen for over a decade, have carried out dozens of missile attacks against Israel and against ships in the Red Sea that they claim are linked to Israel, a move they frame as support for the Palestinians.
