Yemen's Houthi rebels have issued a threat to target Israeli ships in the Red Sea, adding to the escalating tensions between the two groups. In a speech broadcast on Al-Masirah TV station, rebel leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi stated that they are monitoring for Israeli vessels in the Red Sea, even those without Israeli flags. The Bab al-Mandab Strait, a crucial shipping lane responsible for a significant portion of global oil consumption, is seen as a potential area of escalation. The Houthi rebels have launched a series of drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, marking their first entry into a foreign war. The rebel leader criticized the recent meeting of Arab and Muslim leaders, stating that no practical actions were taken.

The rebels also called on neighboring countries, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt, to open a land crossing to allow fighters to join the war alongside Hamas. These threats from the Houthi rebels come in the wake of their ongoing campaign of drone and missile attacks against Israel over its war with Hamas. The rebel group, backed by Iran, vowed to target Israeli ships in the Red Sea, even if they don't display Israeli flags. They accuse the enemy of relying on camouflage in its movement and turning off identification devices. Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi emphasized that they will search and verify Israeli ships and won't hesitate to target them.

The Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital shipping lane, could potentially become an area of escalation as the rebels could lay sea mines, seize ships, or use anti-ship missiles and water-borne drones. The Houthis have declared themselves part of the axis of resistance of Iran-affiliated groups and have been fighting against a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen since 2015. They have recently expanded their attacks to include Israel. The Houthi rebels continue to make threats against Israel, revealing their intentions to target Israeli ships in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

The group, supported by Iran, has launched multiple missile and drone attacks against Israel in the past month. Rebel leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi stated that their forces will continue to carry out attacks, adding that their eyes are constantly monitoring Israeli ships in the Red Sea. The Bab al-Mandab Strait, a narrow pass between Yemen and Djibouti, is a crucial shipping route that carries about a fifth of global oil consumption. The escalating tensions between the Houthi rebels and Israel pose a potential risk of the conflict spreading further across the Middle East. The rebels also criticized a recent meeting of Arab and Muslim leaders in Riyadh, stating that no practical actions were taken. They urged neighboring countries, such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt, to open a land crossing to allow fighters to join the war alongside Hamas.