Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels announced Monday their intention to enforce a so-called “naval blockade” on Israel’s Haifa Port, declaring that all vessels en route to the port are now considered legitimate targets. In a televised statement, Houthi military spokesman Yehya Saree warned, “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 target bank.” While the group has made similar threats before — including a recent declaration of a blockade on Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport — their actual capacity to follow through remains limited. Nonetheless, such rhetoric marks a continued escalation in the group’s self-proclaimed campaign against Israeli infrastructure, and raises concerns about the safety of commercial shipping in the eastern Mediterranean. The announcement comes on the heels of a missile attack on Ben Gurion Airport that, while intercepted, prompted several foreign airlines to suspend service to and from Israel. Despite these efforts, the Houthis have failed to cause sustained disruption or achieve the strategic objectives outlined in their threats. The Haifa Port, a major hub for Israeli imports and naval activity, has remained fully operational. Israeli defense officials have not publicly responded to the Houthi statement, though analysts say the announcement is likely more about optics and psychological warfare than a credible military threat. “The Houthis are clearly trying to project power beyond their region,” said a former Israeli naval commander. “But targeting ships bound for Haifa — hundreds of miles from Yemen’s coast — is more about grabbing headlines than executing viable attacks.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)