In a statement, the Yemen-based armed group says it will expand its current targeting of any Israeli ships operating in the waters off Yemen if aid is not increased in Gaza.
The group said any ships heading towards Israel would be considered “legitimate targets”. It added it would respect international trade for any ships not linked to or traveling to Israel.
The Houthis in November hijacked a tanker that business records show is partially owned by an Israeli-businessman. Israel has said no Israelis were operating the vessel or were on board at the time.
Yemen sits along an arterial global trade route that connects the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea, which then connects to the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal.
Source: AlJazeera