Yemeni Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi issued a fresh warning Thursday, reaffirming the group's policy of targeting vessels it deems linked to Israel in critical maritime corridors. He said no company would be allowed to transport goods associated with Israel through the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, or Arabian Sea, reiterating the group’s long-standing position amid renewed hostilities at sea.

Yemeni Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi declared Thursday that his forces will not allow Israel to resume operations at its southern port of Eilat as long as the siege on the Gaza Strip continues. The statement follows the group’s renewed maritime campaign, including the sinking of two commercial ships in the Red Sea this week.

“We will not allow the Zionist regime to reactivate the Eilat port until the siege on the Gaza Strip is lifted,” al-Houthi said, directly linking Houthi naval action to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Strategic Port Under Pressure

Eilat, Israel’s key port on the Red Sea, has seen its operations significantly reduced due to Houthi drone and missile threats since the start of the Gaza war. The port is a vital access point for trade with Asia and plays a strategic role in Israel’s economic resilience.

The Houthis, backed by Iran, have repeatedly targeted what they claim are Israeli-linked ships across the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Arabian Sea, declaring their actions part of a broader campaign in support of Palestinians.

“The decision to strike Israeli-linked ships is firm and in force,” al-Houthi stated, just days after two commercial vessels were sunk in the Red Sea—the first such incidents in months. The attacks mark a significant escalation in the Iran-backed group’s regional maritime campaign.

The recent attacks come after months of relative quiet in the Red Sea, where the Houthis had previously targeted vessels in what they claim is retaliation for Israeli actions in Gaza. The group’s naval threats have disrupted global shipping lanes, prompting Western naval deployments and insurance surcharges across the region.

The renewed aggression raises concerns over regional stability and the security of international shipping routes, particularly in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait—one of the world’s most critical chokepoints for oil and trade.