Overview

• Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree announced on July 27–28 that any ship calling at or working with Israeli ports will be attacked under the blockade’s fourth phase
• The group said it will use missiles, drones and unmanned surface vessels to target vessels “anywhere within the reach” of its forces
• Earlier this month the rebels sank two Greek-owned bulk carriers, Magic Seas and Eternity C, killing crew members and holding others captive
• The naval campaign has disrupted over $1 trillion in annual Red Sea trade, driving many companies to reroute around Africa and pushing up insurance rates
• International efforts—from US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian to a US-brokered ceasefire in mid-May—have so far failed to end the maritime assaults