The Houthis have argued that their attacks on Israeli-linked ships are an act of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
A group of countries led by the United States has warned Yemen’s Houthi rebels of “consequences” unless they stop their attacks on Red Sea shipping vessels.
“Let our message now be clear: we call for an immediate end to these illegal attacks and the release of illegally detained ships and crews,” said the statement issued by the White House on Wednesday.
“The Houthis will take responsibility for the consequences if they continue to threaten lives, the global economy and the free flow of commerce in the region’s critical waterways.”
The United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Germany and Japan are among the 12 signatories.
The only Middle Eastern country to sign the declaration was Bahrain, which has a tense relationship with Houthi-aligned Iran.
The statement comes after several reports that US President Joe Biden’s administration is considering direct strikes against the rebels if the attacks continue.
The Houthis have said their attacks on the busy waterway are an act of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and that they target ships with ties to Israel.
The United States sent an aircraft carrier, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, to the area and previously announced a coalition of countries to protect movement in the Red Sea, through which 12 percent of world trade passes.
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Earlier on Wednesday, the Houthis claimed responsibility for an earlier attack on a merchant ship in the Red Sea.
“The naval forces of the Yemeni armed forces carried out an operation against the CMA CGM TAGE ship that was heading towards the ports of occupied Palestine,” the Houthis said in X.
French operator CMA CGM said its container ship was unharmed and suffered “no incidents.”
A CMA CGM spokesman said the ship was heading to Egypt.
Houthi attacks in recent weeks have been mainly concentrated in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
On Tuesday, Danish shipping giant Maersk extended the suspension of services through the waterway and Gulf of Aden in southern Yemen “until further notice.”
