Houthis escalate conflict with naval blockade on Haifa port
Yemeni Houthi rebels have announced a naval blockade of the Israeli port of Haifa, threatening attacks on ships. This marks another step in the escalation of the conflict, which Iran supports.
What do you need to know?
- Blockade of the port of Haifa: Houthi rebels have declared a naval blockade of Israel's largest port, threatening to attack ships bound for Haifa.
- Attacks on Israel: Since the outbreak of war in the Gaza Strip, the Houthis have consistently attacked Israel with ballistic missiles and drones to support Palestinian Hamas.
- The U.S. has formed an international coalition and launched a new offensive against the Iran-backed Houthis in mid-March.
The "naval blockade" of Haifa, Israel's largest seaport, poses a serious threat to navigation in the region. The Iranian-backed Yemeni rebels have promised attacks on ships heading to the port, which could significantly impact international maritime trade. Previously, the Houthis announced a "blockade" of Tel Aviv's largest airport.
First the airport, now a port blockade
Since the beginning of the conflict in the Gaza Strip, the Houthis have fired over 30 ballistic missiles and numerous drones toward Israel. Most of them were intercepted by Israeli air defences, but some missiles reached their targets (a ballistic missile launched by Houthi rebels from Yemen struck the airport area, injuring several people and halting flight operations for 30 minutes).
The rebels declare their support for the Gaza Strip, besieged by Israel and Palestinian Hamas.
In response to Houthi actions, the U.S. has intensified its military operations in the region, announcing a new offensive and conducting airstrikes on Sana'a, the capital of Yemen. Despite the declared truce between the U.S. and the Houthis, attacks on Israeli targets have not ceased. The Israeli Air Force has conducted retaliatory airstrikes on targets in Yemen, including the airport in Sana'a and the port in Hodeidah.
The Houthis are recognized by the West as a terrorist organization, controlling a large part of Yemen. The conflict in the country has been ongoing since 2014, and according to the UN, nearly 400,000 people have died. The situation in the region remains tense.
