After imposing a naval blockade on the port of Eilat and an air blockade of Ben Gurion Airport, Yemen announced that from now on no ships will have the right to enter the port of Haifa. pic.twitter.com/wxhiYmYACu
— Sprinter Press (@SprinterPress) May 19, 2025
The Yemeni Armed Forces, led by AnsarAllah, have escalated their military campaign by imposing a naval blockade on Israel’s port of Haifa. The announcement, delivered by Brigadier General Yahya Saree, marks a significant expansion of Yemen’s operations against Israel. The blockade follows a series of missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli infrastructure, including Ben Gurion Airport, and comes in direct response to Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza.
The blockade is already affecting maritime operations. AnsarAllah has warned all shipping companies with vessels docked at or en route to Haifa to take the announcement seriously. The group has officially added Haifa to its list of military targets, signaling that any attempt to bypass the blockade could result in direct action. This move follows Yemen’s successful siege of the port of Umm al-Rashrash (Eilat), which halted operations there.
The timing of this escalation is critical. Israel has intensified its military campaign in Gaza, prompting AnsarAllah to expand its operations in solidarity with Palestinian forces. The group has vowed to continue its military actions until Israel lifts its blockade on Gaza and ceases its attacks. The blockade on Haifa is part of a broader strategy to disrupt Israeli supply chains and pressure the government into changing its approach.
Israel has responded by intercepting missiles launched from Yemen, with air raid sirens activated across Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and parts of the occupied West Bank. One Israeli civilian was reportedly injured while fleeing to a shelter in Bat Yam, south of Tel Aviv. The Israeli military has threatened further strikes on Yemen, including potential assassination operations targeting AnsarAllah leadership.
Sources
https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2025/05/mil-250519-presstv01.htm