Yemen’s Houthis Warn Red Sea Cargo Ships Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions

After the Iran-aligned Houthis claimed an attack on a commercial tanker, a top official from Yemen’s Houthis urged cargo vessels in the Red Sea on Tuesday to avoid sailing toward Israel.

In their recent protest against Israeli bombardment of Gaza, the Houthis said they fired a missile at a Norwegian commercial tanker, highlighting the dangers of a conflict that has shaken the Middle East.

In addition to avoiding Israel, which the group pointed to as “occupied Palestine,” vessels passing through Yemen ought to keep radios turned on and respond promptly to Houthi attempts at communication, stated Mohamed Ali al-Houthi, head of the Yemeni Houthi supreme revolutionary committee, in a message on X.

Al-Houthi also advised cargo vessels against “falsifying identity” or flying flags from countries other than those of the cargo ship’s owner.

In the words of Houthi military spokeswoman Yehia Sarea, the Iran-aligned organization targeted the tanker, known as the STRINDA, since it was bringing crude oil to an Israeli dock, and its crew rejected all warnings.

The Houthis have entered the Israel-Hamas battle, which has extended throughout the area, assaulting vessels in important maritime lanes and shooting missiles and drones at Israel from their base in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa.

Reference: Reuters