DUBAI: Yemen’s Houthi fighters on Friday threatened to extend their attacks on Israel-bound shipping to the Mediterranean after months of strikes on vessels in the Red Sea.

The Iran-backed Houthis, who say they are acting in support of Palestinians, said the escalation would take effect “immediately”.

It involves “the targeting of all ships that violate the ban (on) Israeli navigation and that head to the ports of occupied Palestine from the Mediterranean Sea in any reachable area within our ample zone”, military spokesman Yahya Saree said in a statement.

The Houthis, who control large swathes of Yemen including much of its Red Sea coast, have launched scores of drone and missile attacks on shipping since November.

Their campaign has prompted US and British reprisal attacks and the formation of an international naval coalition to protect the vital trade route.

With Israel’s Mediterranean ports lying about 2,000 kilometres from northern Yemen, it is unclear how much of a threat the Houthis will pose.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2024