Yemen's Ansar Allah Announces Ban on Israeli Ships in Red Sea

Yemen's Ansar Allah movement announced Monday a total ban on Israeli ships transiting the Red Sea. A source from the group told Newsweek the move is part of "the unity of the arenas" and aims to end what it called "Israeli debauchery." The same source said Yemen stands against Israeli actions that have disregarded prior understandings in Lebanon and Gaza.

The announcement comes while energy markets face disruption from rival U.S. and Iranian restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz. During an earlier campaign by the same group, traffic through Egypt's Suez Canal dropped by roughly two-thirds, sending vessels on longer routes around southern Africa. That earlier campaign ran from October 2023 until an Israel-Hamas ceasefire in October 2025.

Iran launched missiles Sunday after Israeli strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. Israel then conducted strikes Monday on sites in Tehran and other Iranian locations, hitting air defense systems and a petrochemical complex. Ansar Allah separately announced a strike on military targets in Tel Aviv on Monday; the Israel Defense Forces said the attack was intercepted.

Hours later, Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters stated it would halt operations against Israel.

Reimposing a Red Sea blockade could raise shipping costs further. Larger tankers rerouted around South Africa's Cape of Good Hope previously faced up to $1 million in added expenses and weeks of extra travel time per voyage. Oil and gas shipment costs have already increased due to transit fees in the Strait of Hormuz and higher insurance premiums.

The group controls about one-third of Yemen and nearly 80 percent of its population, including the capital Sanaa.