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“The armed forces will not hesitate to target any Israeli ship in the Red Sea or any location that falls within our reach, starting from the moment this statement is announced.” – Yahya Sarea, Houthi Military spokesperson.
The Houthi rebels of Yemen said they would be targeting every ship going towards Israel. For context, on November 19th, 2023, an Israeli commercial vessel travelling in the Red Sea was detained, and it is still stuck there. It has been turned into a tourist attraction for Yemenis. On December 3rd, 2023, missiles were launched at three commercial vessels. On December 11th, a Norwegian ship was targeted by a rocket.
The Houthis are a Shia armed group in Yemen who are (allegedly) financially backed by Iran. In the aftermath of the ongoing illegal occupation of Gaza by the Israeli forces, they have been targeting ships in the Red Sea. These attacks started in October of this year. The latest target was a Norwegian-based company’s cargo ship named Strinda. It was going from Malaysia to Italy. A fire broke out, but no casualties were reported.
The Houthi spokesperson claims that the crew of the ship was warned multiple times before it was shot, and it was not going to Italy but Israel. He once again stated they would not let these ships pass until food and medication were allowed into the Gaza Strip. This goes on to show that the attacks will not be stopping anytime soon unless aid is allowed in Gaza along with a ceasefire.
A missile was even fired at a US warship, the USS Carney. However, it was intercepted. The United States has brought in multiple warships in response to these attacks. The French have also retaliated. They shot down two Houthi drones that were targeting French warships.
These attacks have put the shipping industry in danger. The Houthis control the majority of Yemen, including the capital city. They can access important trade routes, including the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Both these routes lead to the Suez Canal. The Suez Canal, which connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean via the Red S, is artificial. It is the busiest trade route between Asia and Europe. Around 12 per cent of Global trade, 30 per cent of global container traffic, and 10 per cent of sea-born oil pass through the Red Sea. The cargo ships passing here carry goods worth a million dollars.
As things escalate in the Red Sea, ten nations have joined hands for a multi-national coalition. It aims to defend the ships under attack in the Red Sea. The strategy of this coalition has yet to be decided, but reports say that warships will be accompanying commercial vessels. Loyd Austin, the Pentagon Chief in West Asia, announced it. It is being called Operation Prosperity Guardian.
The ten member nations include the US, Spain, Seychelles, Norway, Netherlands, UK, France, Canada, Italy and Bahrain. Other Gulf states would prefer to join. The Houthis claim they are fighting for Palestinians. The Arab states support. So, their joining the coalition could be translated as hurting the Palestinian interests. However, the possibility of them joining can not be ruled out, as reports say they are involved behind the scenes.
This coalition shows just how serious the situation in the Red Sea is. Over the weekend, fifteen drones were fired by the Houthis. However, all of them were shot down by US and UK warships. On Monday this week, two ships were targeted again.
As per reports, some of the ships targeted by the Houthis were not going to Israel but to European ports. As a result, major shipping companies have started to avoid the Red Sea. They are using the alternative route. However, this has a drawback. The alternate route takes at least ten extra travelling days, which means increased fuel, time, and finances. This, in turn, will also increase the prices of the goods on the ships, including oil, gold, and gadgets. Recently, crude oil prices have increased by three per cent as companies have stopped using the Red Sea Route.
The Houthi top leader warned the coalition, saying, “We have capabilities to sink your fleet, your submarines, your warships. The Red Sea will be your graveyard.” This hints that the Houthis will continue their fight until their demands are met.
The writer is a student of Peace and Conflict Studies.
