Houthi Leader Warns of Renewed Threats to Red Sea Shipping

The leader of the Houthis has issued a stark warning, stating that his forces remain ready to resume attacks on merchant ships transiting the Red Sea if the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas collapses.

So far this year, no vessels have been targeted, with the Houthis agreeing to hold back as long as Israel’s conflict with Hamas ceases. However, the truce appears increasingly at risk.

Israel’s security cabinet has backed President Donald Trump’s demand for the immediate return of all remaining Israeli hostages, adding further pressure to the situation.

In response to Hamas’s announcement that it was postponing the release of additional hostages, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed troops to mobilize inside and around Gaza.

Tensions surrounding the ceasefire escalated further after Trump proposed last week that Gazans be evicted from their land, suggesting the US take control and redevelop the area as the “Riviera of the Middle East.”

As the situation intensifies, Houthi leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi declared in a televised speech: “Our hands are on the trigger, and we are ready to immediately escalate against the Israeli enemy if it returns to escalation in the Gaza Strip.”

While no recent attacks have been recorded since the Houthi-announced truce last month, the number of vessels sailing through the Gulf of Aden remains unchanged, according to the Joint Maritime Information Center. However, major shipping companies, particularly container lines, remain hesitant to resume using Red Sea routes.

In a display of support for Hamas, the Houthis launched a series of attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden beginning in November 2023. More than 100 ships have been targeted, prompting most vessels traveling between Asia and Europe to reroute, avoiding the area.