Tensions in the Middle East have escalated following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, prompting a warning from Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement that retaliation is imminent.
As reported by Reuters, Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a senior Houthi official, stated that the group’s ceasefire with the U.S. preceded the current “war” on Iran, suggesting their agreement may no longer be honored. The Houthis, who have attacked shipping routes and Israel in support of Gaza, had agreed in May to halt assaults on U.S. ships in exchange for a pause in U.S. strikes.
The threat to commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden is now rated “high” by the U.S.-led Joint Maritime Information Center. Despite this, major shipping firms such as Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk, and several Japanese lines continue navigating the vital Strait of Hormuz, though with heightened caution. Meanwhile, Iran’s parliament has backed a potential closure of the strait.
In parallel, on 20 June, the U.S. Treasury has launched its largest sanctions action yet against the Houthis, targeting individuals, companies, and ships involved in smuggling oil and goods that fund the group’s operations. This follows several earlier rounds of sanctions, with the Houthis now officially designated as both a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group and a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
