Houthi threat to shipping extends to Mediterranean, warns naval forces
Naval advisory says Houthi missiles and drones can reach targets in the northern Red Sea and eastern Mediterranean
Shipping urged to remain vigilant as Houthi retaliatory attacks are anticipated
SHIP operators have been warned that Houthi missiles and drones can now reach targets as far north as the eastern Mediterranean.
The warning, issued on Thursday by the Joint Maritime Information Center, came as Yemen’s rebel Houthi group fired what they described as a “hypersonic ballistic missile” at Israel, which was intercepted.
The missile was fired toward Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv.
While attacks on commercial ships have been concentrated in the area of the southern Red Sea and Western Gulf of Aden, attacks on US Navy assets and Israel are now expected throughout the entire Red Sea in the wake of recent US air strikes against Houthi targets.
Commercial ships have not been targeted by the Houthis since a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups in the Gaza Strip took effect in January.
However, in the wake of escalating tension in the Middle East, the Houthis announced on March 12 that a “resumption” of its blockade on Israeli vessels was taking effect.
Following a series of US air strikes on Wednesday that hit Sanaa, Yemen’s rebel-held capital, as well as their stronghold of Saada in the country’s northwest on Wednesday night, shipping has been warned that retaliatory attacks are now likely.
In its latest advisory notice to shipping issued on Thursday, JMIC recommended vessels operating Red Sea follow the Maritime Security Transit Corridor and keep clear of US Navy assets “as attacks towards these vessels could potentially result in collateral damage”.
A statement issued by the Houthis following the latest missile strike targeting Israel said that “the ban on Israeli navigation” would continue until the aggression against Gaza stops.
US President Donald Trump meanwhile warned the Houthis that they would be “completely annihilated” if attacks against shipping resumed.
Trump also warned Iran not to arm the Houthis, claiming without offering evidence that Tehran “has lessened its intensity on Military Equipment and General Support to the Houthis.”
“Iran must stop the sending of these Supplies IMMEDIATELY,” he wrote on his Truth Social website.
The JMIC is an information sharing and coordination construct established under Combined Maritime Forces to counter Houthi threats in the Red Sea region.