Houthi Threaten To Resume Red Sea Attacks On Shipping

The Houthi in Yemen have threatened to restart attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea on 12 March.

The Houthi strike on the tanker SounionCredit: Courtesy of Ambrey, Israel stopped all movement of aid supplies into Gaza a week ago and on Sunday cut off electricity supplies, drawing a strong response from the Houthi in Yemen, who previously targeted commercial shipping in the Red Sea in support of Hamas in Gaza, and in an attempt to blockade Israel.

In a video posted on the Houthi’s Telegram channel on 8 March an ultimatum was given to Israel to reopen aid to Gaza within four days or it would resume naval operations against what it called the “Israeli enemy”.

A second video posted on 9 March with ominous music showed attacks by the Houthi on merchant in the Red Sea over the last two years including the hijacking of the Galaxy Leader and missile and drone strikes on vessels transiting the area.

The Houthi ceased attacks on the commercial shipping in the Southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden after the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas on 19 January. It brought to an end 14 months of attacks on merchant shipping in the region which resulted in large scale diversions via the Cape of Good Hope.

Given the fragile nature of the ceasefire many shipping companies such as the major container lines have continued to avoid the Red Sea and the Suez Canal and resumption of transits was not expected until the second half of the year.