Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) announced on Monday the imposition of a naval blockade on the Israeli-occupied Port of Haifa, escalating their military campaign in response to the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza.

In an official statement, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, spokesperson for the YAF, confirmed that Haifa Port — a major strategic hub under Israeli control — is now considered a legitimate military target. This action, Saree declared, is a direct response to the ongoing war crimes and starvation campaign Israel is waging on Gaza under a suffocating blockade.

“The Armed Forces will not hesitate to take any further steps in defense of Gaza and the oppressed Palestinian people,” Saree stated. “Our operations will continue until the brutal aggression ceases and the blockade on Gaza is fully lifted.”

The announcement marks a significant escalation in Yemen’s regional operations, following the effective shutdown of the Port of Umm al-Rashrash (Eilat) through sustained Yemeni military pressure. Haifa now joins the list of Israeli ports under threat as Yemen extends its strategic maritime campaign in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Brigadier Saree issued a clear warning to all maritime companies: any vessels currently docked at or en route to Haifa must treat the declaration with full seriousness. The YAF emphasized that commercial complicity in Israeli war efforts will not go unanswered.

This development comes on the heels of Yemen’s aerial campaign targeting Ben Gurion Airport, which began on May 4 with a declaration of a total aerial blockade on Israel. A series of precision strikes forced multiple evacuations and plunged Israeli air traffic into disarray — a testament to Yemen’s growing regional military reach.

In tandem with these actions, the Yemeni leadership has warned international airlines to avoid Israeli airspace altogether, citing safety concerns amid a series of targeted strikes that disrupted operations and grounded flights.

The government in Sanaa continues to reaffirm its unwavering support for the Palestinian Resistance, reiterating that Yemen’s military operations are acts of legitimate solidarity with an oppressed people under occupation.

“The stance of the Yemeni Armed Forces is rooted in moral, religious, and humanitarian responsibility,” the YAF stated. “We will continue to confront Zionist aggression through all available means.”

As Gaza endures one of the most devastating military assaults in recent history — with tens of thousands killed and millions displaced — Yemen’s defiance has emerged as a beacon of resistance in the region, gaining recognition among movements and states aligned with the struggle for Palestinian liberation. (ILKHA)