The Iran-backed Houthi militant group announced it would prohibit U.S. vessels from navigating the southern Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and Gulf of Aden, stating it would target U.S. Navy ships in retaliation for American airstrikes on Yemen.
The leader of the Yemeni movement stated on Sunday that all U.S. vessels, along with Israeli ships, would be prohibited from passing through the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea if U.S. attacks on Yemen persist.
The latest development is expected to further dampen ongoing shipping challenges in the Red Sea as vessels continue to steer clear of the southern Red Sea due to the risk of sudden escalation in the region, despite the fact that no Houthi attacks on merchant ships have been reported this year.
"The US aircraft carrier and warships will be a target for us, and the decision to ban shipping will also affect the Americans as long as they continue their aggression," the leader of the Houthis, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, said.
Meanwhile, in response, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels "will be completely annihilated" as Washington pledged overwhelming force until the rebels cease fire on crucial shipping routes in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
The White House also detailed the Houthi attacks on international shipping and their impact on global trade, including the decline in transits through the Red Sea and Suez Canals.
It added that Houthi attacks caused approximately 60% of EU-affiliated vessels to reroute around Africa instead of transiting the Red Sea.
"It has been over a year since a U.S.-flagged commercial ship safely sailed through the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, or the Gulf of Aden. No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World," the White House said.
"Our economic and national security have been under attack by the Houthis for too long. Today, President Trump’s action and leadership are moving to end this," it added.
As reported by the Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC), there have been 112 recorded incidents in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since November 2023. This total includes six serious incidents, 42 minor occurrences, 46 attempted attacks, and four hijackings. Moreover, the attacks by Houthis on merchant ships have resulted in the deaths of four mariners and left two others with serious injuries.
