THE Houthis have announced a “resumption” of its blockade on Israeli vessels after issuing an ultimatum a few days ago, but the situation remains unchanged as Israeli ships were never granted safe access.

The Yemini militia’s spokesman Ameen Hayyan said in a statement posted on social media on March 11 that all Israeli ships are now prohibited from operating in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, Bab el Mandab Strait and Gulf of Aden.

An email was also sent out to industry and press, a screenshot of which can be seen below.

“This ban is in force from the moment this statement is issued. If any Israeli ship attempts to break this ban, it will be targeted in the designated operational zones.

“This restriction will continue until the crossings into Gaza are reopened and humanitarian aid — including food and medicine — is allowed in,” the statement added.

Security analysts say the announcement changes nothing as the Houthis had already communicated that Israeli ships were perceived as legitimate targets.

“While the Houthis said they would ‘resume’ attacks from last night, nothing has changed from the January 19 announcement in which they said they would stop attacking all ships other than Israel-owned,” EOS Risk Group head of advisory Martin Kelly.

The email distributed by the Houthis Humanitarian Operations Coordinate Center on January 19, when the Israel-Hamas ceasefire was implemented and the group started to lift Red Sea restrictions, stated that “vessels wholly owned by Israeli individuals or entities and/or sailing under the Israeli flag” remained targets.

Israeli owned and flagged vessels diverted from the Red Sea in the early days of the crisis and have not returned to the area. 

BIMCO chief security officer Jakob Larsen said: “I don’t believe the new Houthi message will change the security risk assessments in any way. I suspect the Houthis are just ensuring they are part of the picture also in the media.”

This latest Houthi announcement follows a renewed deadlock in negotiations between Israel and Hamas, with Israel resuming attacks on Gaza and blocking all aid deliveries.

Meanwhile, Hamas has said it will embark on a new round of talks with Israel, as US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff arrives in Doha to push for a new ceasefire deal.

Shipping companies still remain largely on the sidelines regarding the Red Sea situation, in no hurry to return to this key route connecting Europe and Asia, despite the nearly two-month official pause in attacks.

According to Lloyd’s List Intelligence vessel-tracking data, 864 cargo-carrying vessels over 10,000 dwt transited the Bab el Mandeb in February. This figure was 1,984 for the same period in 2023.

In the campaign preceding the partial stop to attacks, the Houthis attacked more than 130 vessels, resulting in the total loss of multiple ships and the deaths of at least four seafarers.