By Salma El Wardany and Alex Longley June 8, 2026 – The Houthis, a militant group supported by Iran and controlling much of Yemen, have announced a ban on Israeli ships in the Red Sea. This decision threatens a...
By Salma El Wardany and Alex Longley
June 8, 2026 – The Houthis, a militant group supported by Iran and controlling much of Yemen, have announced a ban on Israeli ships in the Red Sea. This decision threatens a major alternative route to the Strait of Hormuz.
“We declare a complete and total ban on Israeli maritime navigation,” the group stated on Monday. “We view all enemy movements as legitimate military targets for our forces.”
This action comes as the war in Iran continues into its fourth month, with increasing hostilities in the region. This situation risks disrupting a fragile truce and complicates peace negotiations. The ongoing conflict has nearly closed the Strait of Hormuz, pushing key Middle Eastern exporters to seek other routes to global markets.
While the Houthi statement doesn’t directly ban commercial shipping in the Red Sea, the maritime intelligence agency Vanguard Tech has advised caution.
“Due to the vague language used, vessels operating in the area should stay alert and conduct thorough checks,” Vanguard noted.
The Houthis began attacking ships in 2023, linked to the onset of Israel’s conflict in Gaza. They targeted vessels they considered connected to Israel, a definition that was quite broad, leading to many incidents where ships were mistakenly attacked. This resulted in a significant drop in traffic through the waterway.
Although the Houthis have mostly refrained from direct involvement in the US-Israeli conflict over Iran, they have warned that they might close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
Renewed attacks in this region could threaten oil exports from Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu port, where many oil tankers have recently arrived to collect crude. Martin Kelly, head of advisory at EOS Risk Group, mentioned that while the statement doesn’t change the current risk too much, it could be an initial step toward further escalation.
“Current and historic Israeli ownership are at risk here. The Houthis warn that they will respond to escalation with escalation,” Kelly added.