Houthis escalate tension with naval blockade of Haifa port
Yemeni Houthi rebels have declared a naval blockade of the Israeli port of Haifa, threatening attacks on ships. This marks a further escalation of the conflict, which is supported by Iran.
What you need to know
- Blockade of Haifa port: Houthi rebels have announced a naval blockade of Israel's largest port, threatening to attack ships en route to Haifa.
- Assaults on Israel: Since the onset of war in the Gaza Strip, the Houthis have consistently targeted Israel with ballistic missiles and drones, in support of Palestinian Hamas.
- The United States has formed an international coalition and initiated a new offensive against the Iran-backed Houthis in mid-March.
The "naval blockade" of Haifa, Israel's largest seaport, poses a significant threat to navigation in the area. The Iranian-backed Yemeni rebels have threatened attacks on ships bound for the port, which could disrupt international maritime trade. Previously, the Houthis announced a "blockade" of the largest airport in Tel Aviv.
First the airport, now a port blockade
Since the conflict began in the Gaza Strip, the Houthis have launched over 30 ballistic missiles and around a dozen drones towards Israel. Most were intercepted by Israeli air defences, although some missiles hit their targets (a ballistic missile launched by Houthi rebels from Yemen struck the airport area, injuring several people and suspending flight operations for half an hour).
The rebels have declared support for the Gaza Strip, under siege by Israel and Palestinian Hamas.
In response to Houthi actions, the United States has intensified its military operations in the region, announcing a new offensive and carrying out airstrikes on Sana'a, the capital of Yemen. Despite an announced truce between the United States and the Houthis, attacks on Israeli targets have continued. The Israeli Air Force conducted retaliatory airstrikes on targets in Yemen, including the airport in Sana'a and the port in Hodeidah.
The Houthis are recognised by the West as a terrorist organisation, controlling a substantial part of Yemen. The conflict in the country has been ongoing since 2014, and according to the UN, nearly 400,000 people have perished. The situation in the region remains tense.
