The leader of Yemen’s Houthi movement, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, warned that his forces are ready to resume attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea if the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas collapses.
In a televised address in Yemen, al-Houthi declared: “Our fingers are on the trigger, and we are prepared for immediate escalation against the Israeli enemy if it resumes aggression in Gaza.”
Although the Houthis have refrained from attacking any ships since the start of 2025, they stated that they would avoid offensive actions if the Israel-Hamas war ended. However, the ceasefire appears increasingly fragile, especially after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the concentration of forces around Gaza in response to Hamas’s refusal to release additional hostages.
Tensions escalated further following former U.S. President Donald Trump’s call last week to evacuate Gaza residents and transform the area into the “Riviera of the Middle East,” along with an ultimatum demanding that Hamas release all hostages by Saturday.
Since the Houthi attacks began in November 2023, more than 100 ships have been targeted in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, severely disrupting shipping routes between Asia and Europe. Although the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) reported stable vessel traffic in the Gulf of Aden, many shipping companies, particularly container lines, remain cautious and have not resumed operations along the strategic maritime route.
The rising regional tensions have sparked concerns of renewed assaults on international shipping, which could lead to further disruptions in global maritime trade.
