The rebel Houthi group in Yemen says it will target merchant ships belonging to any company that does business with Israeli ports, regardless of nationality, as part of what it described as the fourth

The Houthis' proclamation  The Houthis proclaim that the warning is a show of support for the Palestinian people in Gaza. Their attacks against merchant ships over the past two years have disrupted shipping in the Red Sea,

Since Israel launched its war on Gaza in October 2023, the Houthis have carried out several attacks on shipping lanes in the Red Sea, saying they were acting in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Israel has responded with repeated strikes on Houthi targets, particularly in Hodeidah, a key entry point for goods and aid into Yemen.