Houthi Rebels Declare Naval Ban on Israel, US, UK Vessels Amid Escalating Conflict

The Houthis of Yemen have said that they have "banned" ships connected to Israel, the US, and the UK from operating in nearby waters. The rebels claim this action is to bolster their military effort, which they claim is in aid of the Palestinian people in Gaza.

The Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center of the Houthi group sent official notices of the ban to shipping insurers and companies operating in the area on Thursday, according to a statement quoted by the Reuters news agency, as per to Al Jazeera.

Houthi Rebels Disrupt Global Maritime Route

(Photo : MOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Students recruited into the ranks of Yemen's Huthi rebel group hold up automatic rifles as they take part in a rally in support of the Palestlinians and against the US, Britain and Israel at a university campus in Sanaa on February 21, 2024, amid continuing battles between Israel and Hamas movement in Gaza.

The Houthi rebels have attacked a crucial route that handles about 12% of worldwide maritime traffic, forcing companies to choose for longer and more expensive routes around Africa.

The Houthi rebels, in a formal communication to the shipping industry, issued notices through their newly-established Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center. These notices explicitly outlined a ban affecting ships wholly or partially owned by Israeli entities, as well as Israel-flagged vessels. Additionally, vessels owned by US or British entities or sailing under their flags are prohibited from entering the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Arabian Sea.

The Humanitarian Operations Center, based in Sanaa, was established to coordinate the safe passage of ships unrelated to Israel, according to a senior Houthi official. This move has implications not only for global maritime traffic but also for shipping insurance premiums, which have already witnessed a surge due to the Houthi attacks.

Coalition forces led by the US are currently responding to a ship that was struck by two missiles and caught fire approximately 70 nautical miles southeast of Aden, Yemen. A UK company owned the vessel Islander, which was flying the flag of Palau while traveling from Thailand to Egypt. The recent rise in attacks on cargo ships by the Houthis caused worry among the global shipping industry, according to Reuters.

Shipping Reroutes Amid Houthi Attacks

While no ships have sunk, and crew casualties are yet to be reported, apprehensions persist regarding the fate of the Rubymar cargo vessel, which was struck on February 18. The Houthis claim the vessel is at risk of sinking, but US defense officials assert that the ship remains afloat as of the latest update.

Several shipping companies have rerouted vessels around the southern tip of Africa, resulting in delays and adding a substantial 3,000-3,500 nautical miles to their journey. In January, retaliatory strikes by US and British forces targeted Houthi facilities, but the attacks have not subsided.

The US military's Central Command (CENTCOM) has undertaken "self-defense" raids against the Houthis, destroying multiple antiship cruise missiles, a mobile ballistic missile launcher, and a drone originating from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen. CENTCOM also reported an injured person following Houthi missile strikes on a British-owned cargo ship in the Red Sea. In response, the US shot down six Houthi drones in the Red Sea, identified as imminent threats to US and allied warships.

The French navy, engaged in the region with two frigates, intercepted and destroyed two Houthi drones in the Red Sea, following two similar incidents earlier in the week. Meanwhile, the European Union initiated a naval mission to safeguard Red Sea shipping from Houthi attacks.

As the Houthi ban disrupts global maritime routes, the situation remains dynamic, with ongoing military responses and international efforts to mitigate the impact on shipping and ensure maritime security, Time of Israel reported.