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Houthis Reportedly Impose Complete Red Sea Shipping Ban on Israeli Vessels

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Maritime transit risks across the Bab al-Mandab Strait intensified dramatically on Monday after Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi militant group declared an absolute blockade on Israeli shipping in the Red Sea, multiple media outlets reported Monday.

In a televised military statement, Houthi spokesperson Yahya Sarea announced a "ban on Israeli maritime navigation," warning that any vessel linked to or operating on behalf of the nation would be classified as a legitimate military target.

The declaration coincided with a fresh Houthi ballistic missile strike targeting sensitive infrastructure positions in the Jaffa region of Israel.

The group stated that the maritime ban and renewed offensive operations are a direct escalation in response to ongoing US-Israeli military strikes across Iran, Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen.

The sudden renewal of Houthi maritime hostilities threatens to choke off a vital global energy bypass route as the broader regional conflict approaches its fourth month.

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