Joint Maritime Information Center issues advisory following Houthis' latest threats against commercial shipping
Combined Maritime Forces' Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC) has issued an advisory to alert commercial shipping and associated maritime stakeholders regarding a recent declaration by the Houthi-controlled Harakat al-Houthis Operations Command Council (HOCC).
The statement, released via affiliated media channels, indicates an expansion of the Houthis' threat posture in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. According to the declaration beginning May 20, 2025, vessels that have called at the Israeli port of Haifa or are alleged to have collaborated with Israeli entities may now be subject to targeted action by HOCC elements.
JMIC said this expanded criteria explicitly includes sister ships—vessels under the same ownership, management, or operator network—as part of the new targeting posture. This implies that a vessel may be deemed hostile by HOCC not due to its own operational history, but solely because another vessel in its corporate structure has engaged in Israeli port activity.
JMIC said the risk applies regardless of flag, cargo, or current voyage route.
JMIC notes that this is very similar to the May 2024 Houthi phase four announcement of attacks expanded to include ships whose owners/operators have vessels visiting Israeli ports.
In response, JMIC strongly urges all shipping companies and operators with vessels transiting the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden to:
Conduct a comprehensive audit of any Haifa, Israel port calls within their fleet, including those of sister vessels, time-chartered vessels, and vessels under common beneficial ownership or technical management
Evaluate their digital footprint, including AIS transmission logs, vessel-tracking platforms, and public maritime databases, for any historical linkage that could be interpreted by HOCC-affiliated actors as grounds for targeting
Reinforce cybersecurity and information control protocols, particularly concerning voyage routing, port call data, and affiliations that may be available through open-source intelligence methods.
JMIC will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as required.
