Iran-backed Houthi rebels have threatened to expand their conflict in the Red Sea to a major ocean outside the Middle East.
The group – which has spent the last four months targeting trading vessels en route to Israel – has vowed to undertake a “major step” that could further damage the regional supply chain.
The Yemeni rebels have proclaimed their allegiance with Hamas during the ongoing conflict with Israel.
Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the group’s chief, said in a recently televised speech that his organisation plans to extend its influence through Africa’s east coast.
He said the Houthis have already started to implement operations related to the new plans.
In a televised speech, al-Houthi said the group would extend its reach to the Indian Ocean and around Africa’s tip.
He said: “Our main battle is to prevent ships linked to the Israeli enemy from passing through not only the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, but also the Indian Ocean towards the Cape of Good Hope.
“This is a major step, and we have begun to implement our operations related to it.”
Houthis have recently ramped up violence in the Red Sea, with an attack last week having killed three sailors aboard a US cargo ship.
Images of the True Confidence show the ship’s smoking deck as it sat off the coast of southern Yemen.
