War Spreads to the Red Sea, Houthis Declare Strait Closed for Israel

Darwin, 09 June : Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement has announced a ban on Israeli-linked maritime traffic through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, raising fears of renewed disruption along one of the world’s most critical shipping routes.

The announcement came on Monday after the group launched missile attacks against Israel, according to a report by Al Arabiya.

During the Israel-Hamas war, the Houthis repeatedly targeted U.S. and Israeli-linked vessels in the Red Sea, forcing many shipping companies to reroute around the southern tip of Africa, significantly increasing transit times and costs.

The latest threat comes at a time when the Strait of Hormuz — the gateway for Gulf energy exports — is reportedly facing disruption amid escalating tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel.

In a statement, the Houthi armed forces declared, “We announce a complete and final ban on Israeli maritime navigation in the Red Sea.”

“From the moment this statement is issued, all enemy movements will be considered legitimate military targets for our armed forces,” it added.

The Yemeni armed forces said they had carried out a missile strike against what they described as sensitive Israeli targets in the occupied Jaffa area in response to “Zionist aggression” against Lebanon, Iran and Gaza.

The statement outlined three key points:

**First**, a comprehensive ban has been imposed on all Israeli maritime traffic in the Red Sea. Any vessel associated with Israel will be regarded as a legitimate military target.

**Second**, any escalation will be met with further escalation. In coordination with the so-called “Axis of Resistance,” military operations will intensify depending on developments on the ground.

**Third**, the Houthis reaffirmed what they described as the right of regional peoples to resist U.S.-Israeli aggression. The group warned that its operations would continue as long as military actions against Palestine, Gaza, Iran, Lebanon and Iraq persist.

The statement also cited a verse from the Quran: *“O you who believe, if you support Allah, He will support you and make your foothold firm.”*

The Houthis, who entered the regional conflict in support of Iran in March, had not announced any missile attacks on Israel since a fragile ceasefire began on April 8.

Earlier, the Israeli military said on Telegram that it had detected a missile launch from Yemen toward Israeli territory and that air defense systems had been activated to intercept the threat.

The Houthi strike came as Israel and Iran exchanged fire on Monday, placing renewed pressure on an already fragile ceasefire and threatening hopes for a broader peace agreement.

The Houthis and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah movement are both part of the Iran-aligned “Axis of Resistance,” a regional coalition opposed to Israel and the United States.