In a statement issued by the Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC) it said the Yemini Armed Forces were resuming a ban on Israeli vessels in the in Red and Arabian Seas, as well as Bab al-Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden.

“Any Israeli vessel attempting to violate this ban will be subject to military targeting in the declared operational area,” it said.

It said the targeting of Israeli vessels was effective immediately and would remain in place until Israel reopened crossings to the Gaza Strip and food, aid and medicines allowed in.

The action applies to vessels that are wholly owned by Israeli individuals or entities, and/or sailing the Israeli flag effective from 23:55 hrs on 11 March.

The warning of attacks does not apply to vessels owned by other countries or nationalities apart from Israel, or other flags, and it is not clear how this differs from the announcement made by the HOCC on after the 19 January when the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect.

At the time of the ceasefire HOCC said the Yemini Armed Forces would be lifting a “ban” on all except wholly Israeli-owned and flagged vessels from transiting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden region.