Yemen's Houthis announce 'maritime blockade' on Israel's Haifa port
TOPSHOT - This picture taken from the Israeli side of the border with the Gaza Strip shows smoke plumes rising above destroyed buildings following Israeli strikes in the northern Gaza Strip on May 19, 2025. Israel said on May 19 it will "take control" of the whole of Gaza, where aid entered for the first time in more than two months as rescuers reported dozens killed in a newly intensified offensive. (Photo by JOHN WESSELS / AFP)
CAIRO (Reuters): Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis announced on Monday (May 19) what they called a "maritime blockade" on Israel's Haifa port in response to Israel's ongoing conflict in Gaza.
"All companies with ships present in or heading to this port are hereby notified that, as of the time of this announcement, the aforementioned port has been included in the list of targets," the group's spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a televised address.
The Houthis have continued to fire missiles at Israel including on Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv in what they say is solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, although they have agreed to halt attacks on US ships.
The missiles launched by the group on Israel were mostly intercepted.
Israel has carried out strikes in response, including one on May 6 that damaged Yemen's main airport in Sanaa and killed several people.- Reuters
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