Yemen’s Houthi rebels have announced a new blockade of Israeli-affiliated shipping through the Red Sea, saying they will target any supplies destined for Israeli ports.
A Houthi spokesman said the move was part of their support for the Palestinian people, Lebanon and Iran, and that the group would continue its actions to pressure Israel and its allies.
The new blockade raises concerns about the security of the Red Sea waterway, one of the world’s most important trade routes. Economists and shipping experts warn that any disruption to shipping in the region could affect supply chains, oil prices and global trade.
It also comes at a time of heightened tensions in the region, with the Strait of Hormuz still a strategic and closely watched area, as it plays a key role in energy flows and global trade.
There has been no official statement from Israel or Western powers regarding the new measures announced by the Houthis, but the world’s eyes are on the impact they could have on trade and security in the region.
Late this week, the Iran-backed Houthis claimed responsibility for a missile attack on Saudi Arabia, after Riyadh carried out airstrikes on sites linked to the group on Friday.
Early Saturday morning, the Houthi Ansarullah media outlet said on Telegram that a “missile attack from Yemen” had caused a fire in the Saudi city of Jizan. Saudi authorities had previously issued emergency warnings for the region as reuters reported.
The Houthi group had previously threatened retaliation after Saudi Arabia carried out airstrikes on Houthi positions in the port city of Hodeidah and a nearby island on Friday.
The incident came at a time when there had been no reports of any major airstrikes in the region by the United States or Iran for the first time in two weeks.
Somalia is worrying the new development in the red sea, where secessionist administration of Somaliland declared unliteral independency from Somalia after Israeli pre-mature recognition to the secessionist SNM movement in the north of Somalia. The continuation of the crisis and instability in the red sea and the region impose serious threat to Somali maritime security and trade development.
Written by: Omar Ahmed