Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have announced a missile attack on Israel and declared a complete ban on Israeli ships travelling through the Red Sea. The announcement has raised concerns about renewed disruption along one of the world’s most important shipping routes.

The Red Sea serves as a vital trade corridor connecting Europe, Asia and the Middle East. During the Israel-Hamas war, Houthi attacks on commercial vessels forced many shipping companies to avoid the route. Several firms redirected their ships around the southern tip of Africa, resulting in longer travel times and increased costs.

The latest threat comes at a time when tensions remain high across the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage for global energy exports from the Gulf region, continues to be blocked by Iran amid the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel.

In a statement issued by the Houthi armed forces, the group announced stricter measures against Israel-linked maritime activity. “We declare a complete and total ban on Israeli maritime navigation in the Red Sea,” said a statement from the Houthis’ armed forces.

The statement further warned, “We consider all enemy movements to be legitimate military targets for our armed forces from the moment this statement is issued.”

The Houthis also claimed responsibility for launching missiles at Israel. According to the group, they “launched a missile barrage targeting sensitive Israeli enemy targets”, adding that the strikes “achieved their objectives with precision”.

The attack marked the first missile strike announced by the Houthis against Israel since a fragile ceasefire came into effect on April 8. The group had largely paused such announcements during the period of reduced hostilities.

Earlier on Monday, the Israeli military confirmed that it had detected a missile launched from Yemen. In a message posted on Telegram, the military stated that it “has identified the launch of a missile from Yemen toward Israeli territory, aerial defence systems are operating to intercept the threat”.

The Houthi strike came as Israel and Iran exchanged fire once again on Monday. The renewed violence has increased pressure on the already fragile ceasefire and raised doubts about the possibility of reaching a broader peace agreement in the region.

The Houthis are part of the “Axis of Resistance”, a network of Iran-aligned groups that oppose both Israel and the United States. Lebanon-based Hezbollah is also a member of the alliance, which has played a significant role in regional conflicts over the years.

The Houthi movement emerged from Yemen’s mountainous northern region and has controlled large parts of the country for more than a decade. In September 2014, the group seized the Yemeni capital and forced the internationally recognised government from power.

Their takeover led to a Saudi-led military intervention in March 2015. The conflict quickly developed into a devastating civil war that has continued for years. The war has caused widespread destruction and humanitarian suffering across Yemen. Hundreds of thousands of people have died due to both direct violence and indirect causes such as disease, hunger and the collapse of essential services.

With the Houthis now threatening Israeli-linked shipping once again, fears are growing that commercial traffic in the Red Sea could face renewed risks. Any prolonged disruption along the route could affect global trade and add further uncertainty to an already volatile situation in the Middle East.