Houthis Threaten to Expand Attacks to Indian Ocean

Houthi rally in Sanaa, Yemen (AFP)
Houthi rally in Sanaa, Yemen (AFP)
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Houthis Threaten to Expand Attacks to Indian Ocean

Houthi rally in Sanaa, Yemen (AFP)
Houthi rally in Sanaa, Yemen (AFP)

As tensions continue in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the Houthi militias in Yemen have warned they may expand launching naval assaults to the Indian Ocean with the aim to disrupt the passage of Israeli, American, and British ships.

In a televised speech Thursday night, Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi pledged to keep developing his group’s military strength. He said they’ll stop shipping in the Indian Ocean near southern Africa until the Gaza blockade is lifted and the Israeli war ends.

During a rally in Sanaa, the group’s military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, also stated that Houthis are seeking to ban Israeli ships from the Indian Ocean.

Despite conflicting reports about a cargo ship allegedly targeted by the Houthis near Hodeidah, two British organizations have confirmed the vessel’s safety and crew survival after a missile attack.

British maritime security firm Ambrey and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported on Friday that a commercial ship, initially thought to have been hit by a missile off the port of Hodeidah in Yemen’s Red Sea, showed no signs of damage upon inspection.

The ship was 76 nautical miles west of Hodeidah port when the incident was first reported. Another vessel, 50 nautical miles southwest of Hodeidah, reported two missiles flying over it but exploding far away.

The ship’s captain confirmed hearing two distant explosions but reported no damage, with the crew safe as the ship heads to the next port.

Earlier, both agencies reported the ship being targeted and damaged on its right side.

The vessel was previously listed as Israeli-owned but changed ownership in February 2024.

Meanwhile, the US Central Command stated on Friday that its forces destroyed nine Houthi missiles and two drones in preemptive strikes on Thursday.

In statement, the US Central Command revealed that between 6:50 a.m. on March 14 and 12:40 a.m. on March 15 (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs) from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Gulf of Aden and two additional ASBMs towards the Red Sea.

There were no injuries or damage reported to US or coalition ships.

Additionally, the Central Command successfully engaged and destroyed nine anti-ship missiles and two unmanned aerial vehicles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.

It was determined these weapons presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and US Navy ships in the region. These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for US Navy and merchant vessels.



Baghdad Urges Washington to Prevent ‘Imminent’ Israeli Strikes

Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
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Baghdad Urges Washington to Prevent ‘Imminent’ Israeli Strikes

Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani on Thursday called on major powers to “exert greater efforts to end the war in Palestine and Lebanon.” Meanwhile, an Iraqi government official urged the United States to “prevent any attacks on the country,” referring to potential Israeli strikes.
During a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Al-Sudani stressed the importance of ensuring the conflict does not escalate “to a level that threatens regional and global stability.”
The Iraqi prime minister’s appeal comes amid reports suggesting that Israel may launch strikes on Iraq in retaliation for attacks by Iraqi armed factions targeting Israeli positions.
The Iraqi government is striving to assert its exclusive authority over weapons and war-related decisions. However, armed factions affiliated with the Axis of Resistance openly claim responsibility for near-daily rocket attacks on Israel. This has provided Israel with a justification for potentially targeting Iraqi territory, especially after it filed a complaint with the UN Security Council against six Iraqi factions and held Baghdad responsible for the attacks.
These factions have also openly declared their involvement in the ongoing conflict with Israel in Lebanon and Gaza. The Iraqi government has been unable to take decisive action to halt the activities of these factions, which many believe could soon expose Iraq to an Israeli strike.
According to media reports, Washington has warned Baghdad that Israeli airstrikes on Iraq are “imminent” unless the Iraqi government curtails attacks by Iranian-backed factions on Israel. The Times of Israel cited sources indicating that the United States has “exhausted all means of pressure on Israel” and urged Iraq to act swiftly to prevent such attacks.
Despite repeated assurances from the Iraqi government—including its recent adoption of 12 measures by the National Security Council to counter Israeli threats and complaints—the situation remains tense. These measures include monitoring Iraq’s western borders, preventing factions from launching attacks, and maintaining Iraq’s neutrality in the ongoing conflict.
On Wednesday, Abu Hussein Al-Hamidawi, Secretary-General of Kata’ib Hezbollah, made a striking statement on the role of resistance factions in the war and their commitment to the Unity of Fronts doctrine frequently mentioned by Axis of Resistance groups.
In an interview published by the faction’s media arm, Al-Hamidawi said: “The continuity of the Unity of Fronts concept depends on what the Lebanese Hezbollah decides.”
Al-Hamidawi also emphasized that resistance factions are constantly coordinating internally and with external partners such as Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Palestinian resistance leaders.
“We aim to ensure that the Palestinian people are not left alone and that the Unity of Fronts remains intact,” he stated.
Fadi Al-Shammari, a political advisor to Sudani, reiterated that Israel’s threats “are not new,” citing the recent complaint filed by Israel with the UN Security Council as part of its pattern of issuing threats.
In media statements, Al-Shammari reaffirmed the Iraqi government’s long-standing position: “The decision of war and peace lies solely with the Iraqi government.”
He noted that the factions’ attacks are being launched from areas outside Iraq’s borders, specifically from Syria. However, he stressed that the Iraqi government is working through its security and military agencies to prevent Iraq from becoming a battlefield for external or internal parties.
Al-Shammari also called on the United States to fulfill its responsibilities under the Strategic Framework Agreement and security pact with Iraq, emphasizing the need to deter and respond to any external attacks that threaten Iraq’s internal security.