by Manal Barakat, SeaNewsEditor

The Houthi rebel group has issued warnings to vessel owners and shipping companies, including major container lines, advising them to stop calling Israeli ports.

The group has declared that any vessel associated with companies calling at Israeli ports, such as Haifa, will be targeted.

This announcement was made after the Houthis sent "pre-penalty notices" to 64 shipowners, cautioning them against making port calls to Israel.

The Yemen-based group has banned these ships and their entire fleets from the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Gulf of Aden, and the Arabian Sea, threatening to attack any vessel within their military reach.

The Houthi's Humanitarian Operations Coordination Centre (HOCC) stated that companies that ignore these warnings will bear full responsibility for any consequences.

The group has also indicated that the measures could extend to entities dealing with the targeted shipowners.

This escalation follows the recent sinking of two Greek-operated bulk carriers, the Eternity C and Magic Seas, resulting in the deaths of four seafarers and the capture of 11 crew members.

According to Seatrade Maritime, these impacted ships had not recently called at Israeli ports, but their operators had other vessels that did.