Houthis Prohibit Merchant Ships from Entering Yemen Waters Without Approval

Misfir al-Numair, the telecommunications minister of the Houthi-led administration in Yemen, has stated that merchant ships seeking to enter Yemen’s territorial waters are required to secure permission from the Houthi Maritime Affairs Authority. This directive is in line with the authority’s regulations and policies regarding maritime activities within their territorial jurisdiction.

Back in November 2023, the Houthis of Yemen proclaimed their alliance with Hamas in their war against Israel. They commenced with their aggressive activities by targeting and attacking ships that passed through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. They have, however, asserted that their attacks are selective and are only directed towards ships that are either associated with Israel or are en route to the country.

In response to this, a coalition composed of the United States and Britain was formed with the primary objective to ensure the freedom of navigation through the Suez Canal. Warships from countries within the European Union were also dispatched to the region in an attempt to maintain peace and order. Despite these efforts, the coalition has been unsuccessful in completely preventing attacks on merchant ships.

Recently, on the 4th of March, Houthi spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Sari proclaimed an assault on the commercial ship MSC SKY that was sailing in the Arabian Sea. The Houthis are adamant that the vessel they targeted is affiliated with Israel and was documented to have been struck by a missile.