Amid Israel’s ongoing aggression on Gaza and the continuation of its starvation policy, Yemen has issued a new threat to all companies doing business with Israel. The Yemeni Armed Forces have declared a new naval blockade in the Red Sea, near the Gulf of Aden, which is a crucial shipping link between Asia and Europe.

Highlighting “the rapid developments in occupied Palestine, specifically in the Gaza Strip, including the continuation of the war of genocide,” the Yemeni Armed Forces have decided to escalate their military actions against Israel. 

For months, the Yemenis have been firing missiles targeting the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Haifa Port and other areas of the occupied Palestine. They had also blocked naval traffic through the Gulf of Aden, prompting an American-British aggression on Yemen. 

Now, in the present circumstances, Yemeni Armed Forces have declared their renewed naval blockade in the Red Sea, saying it “faces a religious, moral, and humanitarian responsibility toward the oppressed who are subjected daily and around-the-clock, to killing and destruction by air, land, and sea bombardment, as well as to starvation and thirst due to the stifling and severe siege on steadfast and proud Gaza, which is unacceptable to any human being, let alone Arabs and Muslims.”

The Yemeni Armed Forces have renewed their pledge to help Palestine and start the fourth phase of the naval blockade against Israel-linked ships in the Red Sea.

According to the Yemeni Armed Forces, “This phase includes targeting all ships belonging to any company that deals with the ports of the Israeli enemy, regardless of the nationality of that company, and in any location within the reach of our armed forces.”

As the Yemeni Armed Forces have stressed that the naval blockade in the Red Sea will be nationality-agnostic, it means any ship of any country carrying cargo linked to Israel can come under attack. This poses a significant threat to global maritime traffic and pressurises the countries of the world to take cognisance of Israel’s aggression in the Gaza Strip and desist from trading with it.

In the first three phases, the Yemeni Armed Forces had imposed a naval blockade against Israel successfully in the Red Sea, forcing global corporations to re-route their cargo through the Cape of Good Hope, significantly increasing shipping costs and adding to inflation.

Even the US aggression couldn’t deter Yemen, which successfully thwarted American aggression and forced Washington to retreat from the Red Sea to prevent an ignominious situation. 

The American retreat proves that others can’t stop Yemen from blocking the Red Sea.

Emphasising the seriousness of the situation, the Yemeni Armed Forces said that it warns “all companies to cease their dealings with Israeli enemy ports” from July 27th onwards. “Otherwise, their ships, regardless of their destination, will be targeted anywhere that can be reached or within the reach of our missiles and drones,” the Yemeni Armed Forces announced.

“The Yemeni Armed Forces call on all countries, if they want to avoid this escalation, to pressure the enemy to halt its aggression and lift the blockade on the Gaza Strip,” it added.

“There is no free person on this earth who can accept what is happening (in Gaza), the Yemeni Armed Forces highlighted.

While announcing the naval blockade, the Yemeni Armed Forces pushed the ball to Israel’s court, insisting that it stop the aggression and massacre of civilians in Gaza.

“The actions of the Yemeni Armed Forces express our moral and humanitarian commitment to the injustice against the brotherly Palestinian people, and all our military operations will cease immediately upon the cessation of aggression against Gaza and the lifting of the blockade,” the Yemeni Armed Forces concluded.

Shura Council endorses Yemeni naval blockade expansion in Red Sea

The Yemeni Shura Council presidency, led by Mohammed Hussein Al-Aidarous, has endorsed the armed forces’ announcement of a fourth phase of naval blockade targeting vessels associated with Israeli ports, regardless of nationality.

The council characterised this decision as part of Yemen’s commitment to supporting Gaza amid ongoing military operations, condemning what it described as systematic targeting of civilians seeking humanitarian aid and claiming that hunger-related deaths affect one in three civilians in the territory.

The presidency criticised Arab and Islamic nations for their response to the situation, describing their positions as inadequate.

Resistance commends Yemeni naval blockade in Red Sea

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Mujahideen Movement on Monday praised the Yemeni Armed Forces’ announcement of the fourth phase of its naval blockade in the Red Sea region on ships linked to Israel, calling it a significant step in backing the Palestinian cause.

In a statement, the movement described the move as a bold reflection of Yemen’s firm support for Gaza, embodying true Arab and Islamic solidarity.

It commended Yemen’s leadership and armed forces for standing against Israel and the US, urging global action to end the siege and support Palestinians facing genocide and starvation.