Yemeni armed group Houthis announced a missile strike on Israel on Monday while also declaring a ban on Israeli shipping in the Red Sea.
The group released a statement, stating “We declare a complete and total ban on Israeli maritime navigation in the Red Sea. We consider all enemy movements to be legitimate military targets for our armed forces from the moment this statement is issued.”
The Houthis joined the war in West Asia in support on Iran in March. This marks the first time the group launched an attack on Israel since the fragile ceasefire declared on April 8.
The Shia Islamist group claimed they “launched a missile barrage targeting sensitive Israeli enemy targets” and claimed the strikes “achieved their objectives with precision”.
The Israeli military had earlier shared on Telegram that it “identified the launch of a missile from Yemen toward Israeli territory, aerial defense systems are operating to intercept the threat”.
The Houthis had previously turned away cargo ships in the Red Sea during Israel’s onslaught against Gaza, forcing many companies to take a longer detour around the tip of southern Africa.
Israel and Iran renewed strikes on Monday, threatening the possibility of a peace deal.
The Houthis and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah are part of the Iran-led military coalition the “Axis of Resistance”, aimed at countering the influence of Iran’s rivals in West Asia, including the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, The United Arab Emirates, and sometimes Turkey.
Houthis have taken control of much of Yemen since September 2014, when they took over the capital city Sanaa and subsequently outsted the government. Saudi Arabia led an international military intervention in 2015 to restore the internationally recognised government, leading to an ongoing civil war that has killed hundred of thousands and displaced millions. Houthis’ actions, such as targeting civilians and using child soldiers, have led to international condemnation for human rights abuses.
