Houthis announce ban on all ships heading to Israel

(Patria) - The military spokesman of the Yemeni Houthis warned on Saturday all shipping companies not to cooperate with Israel, saying they would be targeted for attacks in the Red Sea, agencies reported.

"If Gaza does not receive the food and medicine it needs, all ships in the Red Sea heading to Israeli ports, regardless of their nationality, will become targets of our armed forces," said Yahya Saree, announcing a ban on passage for all ships heading to Israel.

The Iran-linked Houthis are firing at Israel and ships in the Red Sea in support of Palestinians. US warships have shot down ballistic and other projectiles multiple times after they were launched in their direction, Pentagon officials said. However, US officials did not say the Houthis were targeting Americans.

The Houthi attacks have also reached Israel. The Houthis also shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone, which costs just over $30 million, off the coast of Yemen.