• Yemen’s Houthi rebels announced renewed attacks on Red Sea shipping, citing Israel’s blockade of Gaza and expired ceasefire terms.
• The group accuses Israel of a “genocidal campaign” and warns of escalating maritime hostilities if aid restrictions persist.
• Over 100 missile and drone attacks since November 2023 have disrupted global trade, targeting Israeli, U.S., and U.K.-linked vessels.
• The U.S.-led naval coalition’s efforts have failed to deter the Houthis, raising concerns about regional security and trade routes.
• The humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with severe shortages of food and supplies, remains central to the conflict and Houthi justifications.

Yemen’s Houthi rebel group, Ansar Allah, announced on Tuesday that it will resume attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea, citing Israel’s continued blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza. The Iran-backed Shia group, which had paused its maritime assaults during the temporary Hamas-Israel truce, declared that the countdown to renewed hostilities had begun. The move threatens to destabilize one of the world’s most critical shipping routes, raising concerns about global trade and regional security.

The Houthis, who have been at war with Israel since Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack, accuse Israel of waging a “genocidal campaign” against Palestinians in Gaza by cutting off electricity and aid. “Any escalation will be the responsibility of the Israeli and American enemies,” warned Ansar Allah spokesman Mohamed Ali Al-Houthi in a statement on X. The group’s leadership has given Israel a four-day deadline to lift restrictions on Gaza, which expired Tuesday evening, paving the way for renewed attacks.

A failed ceasefire and renewed threats

The Houthis’ decision to resume attacks comes after a fragile ceasefire between Hamas and Israel collapsed, with Israel continuing its military operations in Gaza and blocking aid shipments. The rebels had previously halted their campaign of targeting commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea during the truce, but now vow to escalate their efforts. “Only hours separate us from announcing the closure of the sea to Zionist navigation if the efforts of the mediators fail to pressure the Zionist enemy to adhere to the agreement and lift the siege on Gaza,” said Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of Ansar Allah’s Media Authority.

Since November 2023, the Houthis have launched over 100 missile and drone attacks on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors. Their campaign has expanded beyond Israeli-linked ships to include vessels connected to the U.S. and U.K., as well as any ship passing through the region. Despite a U.S.-led naval coalition’s efforts to counter the threat, including multiple bombing raids on Yemen, the Houthis remain undeterred.

The resumption of Houthi attacks threatens to disrupt global trade, particularly through the Suez Canal, a vital artery for goods moving between Asia and Europe. The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, based in Bahrain, has been on high alert, with the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group currently operating in the Red Sea. However, experts warn that military action alone is insufficient to address the crisis.

“The decision to resume attacks renders bare the inability of the U.S. and the international community to meaningfully impact Houthi capabilities and intentions,” said Behnam Taleblu, an Iran expert at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive strategy that includes political, economic, and military measures to counter the Houthis’ growing influence.

A humanitarian crisis in Gaza

At the heart of the conflict lies the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where over 2 million Palestinians face severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies. Israel’s blockade has drawn widespread international condemnation, with critics accusing the Israeli government of using starvation as a weapon of war. The Houthis frame their maritime campaign as a response to this crisis, claiming their actions are driven by “a deep sense of religious, humanitarian, and moral responsibility toward the oppressed Palestinian people.”

Yet, their tactics have drawn criticism for endangering civilian sailors and disrupting global commerce. The maritime security firm Ambrey warned that the Houthis’ ambiguous targeting criteria could put even more ships at risk, including those partially owned or operated by Israeli entities.

As the Houthis prepare to unleash a new wave of attacks, the Red Sea is once again poised to become a flashpoint in the broader Middle East conflict. The group’s defiance underscores the limitations of U.S. and international efforts to contain the crisis, while Israel’s blockade of Gaza continues to fuel regional tensions. With no end in sight to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza or the Houthis’ maritime campaign, the countdown to renewed hostilities ticks away.

Sources for this article include:

SHTFPlan.com

APNews.com

News.USNI.org