Yemen’s Houthi Rebels Expand Threat of Ship Attacks to Mediterranean Sea

Yemen’s Houthi rebels threatened to extend attacks on Israel-bound shipping to the Mediterranean. The Iran-backed Houthis said the escalation would take effect immediately, targeting ships violating the ban on Israeli navigation. Yahya Saree, the military spokesman, made the announcement. The rebels, controlling large swathes of Yemen, have launched drone and missile attacks on shipping since November. Their campaign led to US and British reprisal attacks and the formation of an international naval coalition. With Israel’s ports about 2,000 kilometers away, the extent of the threat remains unclear. The Houthi arsenal includes ballistic missiles with a range of 1,600 to 1,900 kilometers and Iranian drones that can travel up to 2,000 kilometers. Though threats to extend attacks to the Indian Ocean have been made, the focus has remained on the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.