Yahya Sarea, the Houthi military spokesperson delivers a statement, during a rally to show continued support to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, on the first Friday of the fasting month of Ramadan, in Sanaa, Yemen, March 15, 2024. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
DUBAI, April 18 (Reuters) – The leader of Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis, who have been attacking shipping in the Red Sea, said on Thursday the group had carried out “operations” in the Indian Ocean and towards southern Israel.
Abdul Malik al-Houthi’s comments made clear that the Houthis have acted on earlier threats to expand operations to the Indian Ocean region and attacks towards southern Israel.
The Houthis have repeatedly launched attacks towards the southern Israeli port of Eilat in what they have described as a direct confrontation with Israel.
Al-Houthi said in a televised speech that the Houthis had launched 14 operations in two weeks in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Indian Ocean.
The Houthis say their attacks on shipping, which started in the Red Sea region last November, are carried out in solidarity with Palestinians who are under fire from Israel in Gaza.
“There is no danger to maritime traffic related to (ships linked to) European countries that are not heading to Israel,” he added.
Al-Houthi said that so far 98 ships had been targeted in attempts to prevent ships heading to Israel from sailing through the Red Sea.
He said the group would press on with its until Israel halts the military offensive it began against Hamas in Gaza following the Palestinian militant group’s attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7.
“The solution in everyone’s interest is to stop the (Israeli) aggression, end the siege in Gaza, and provide food and medicine (to the Gaza Strip),” he said.
(Reporting by Clauda Tanios and Nayera Abdallah; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Timothy Heritage)
(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2024.
Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.
Join the 105,935 members that receive our newsletter.
Have a news tip? Let us know.
(Bloomberg) — As the US intensifies sanctions pressure on Moscow, Russia’s crude trade with India has begun to resemble a game of oil whack-a-mole. Just as one trader begins to...
The Port of Los Angeles reported a 19% increase in container units handled in March, marking the eighth consecutive month of year-over-year growth. The port processed 743,417 TEUs in March,...
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced the availability of $316 million to support and modernize passenger ferry services across the country. The funding, part of...
Access exclusive insights, engage in vibrant discussions, and gain perspectives from our CEO.
Sign Up
Maritime and offshore news trusted by our 105,935 members delivered daily straight to your inbox.
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Sign Up
Join The Club
