Yemen’s Houthi forces, using drones and ballistic missiles, have carried out what they term “solidarity operations” with Palestinians by targeting two ships in the Red Sea. The strikes were against vessels identified as the Maltese-registered Elbella container ship and the Cyprus-registered Aal Genoa cargo ship. Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, claimed the attacks were in response to Israeli actions in Gaza and part of a broader escalation in military operations.
This surge in maritime assaults by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels poses significant security threats to international shipping lanes. These lanes are crucial arteries for global trade, especially for energy supplies and commercial goods. The Houthis have also announced a “fourth phase of escalation,” which extends their target scope to ships linked with Israel, potentially disrupting maritime traffic in the Mediterranean Sea.
The strategic expansion of Yemeni military operations includes imposing sanctions on all vessels related to supplying occupied Palestinian ports, without regard to their nationality or destination. Such declarations have heightened tensions, with Ansar Allah leader Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi threatening larger scale operations, including against the US Carrier Strike Group 2’s flagship, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. According to Sayyed al-Houthi, the Eisenhower was forced to alter its course following the attacks, which involved several cruise missiles and attack drones.
Meanwhile, the US military has been actively engaged in countering the threat, destroying four drones and two anti-ship ballistic missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. These countermeasures, however, have not halted the tide of maritime attacks. It was reported that the Houthis launched four anti-ship ballistic missiles over the Red Sea, although no injuries or damage were reported. The ongoing conflict has significantly raised insurance costs for vessels in the region, with some shipping firms opting for longer routes to avoid the dangers.
Another vessel, the Marshall Islands-flagged, Greek-owned ship Laax, faced two missile attacks in the Red Sea, causing it to take on water. Though no group claimed responsibility, the Houthis have historically been behind such assaults, with the attacks stemming from their demands that Israel end its military actions in Gaza.
The persistent maritime hostility by the Houthis has led to a reduction in shipping through the threatened areas, affecting the global supply chain. It has also prompted international calls for peace and stability in the region, as the conflict in Yemen drags on without resolution. The prime minister of Yemen’s exiled government has urged the global community to recognize the Houthis’ use of the Palestinian cause as a diversion from peace efforts.
Relevant articles:
– Two ships targeted in Red Sea with drones, ballistic missiles: Saree , Al Mayadeen English, 06/09/2024
– US destroys drones, missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, Voice of America – VOA News, 06/08/2024
– A ship is attacked and takes on water in the Red Sea off Yemen, authorities say, ABC News, 06/07/2024
– Iran-Backed Houthis Won’t Stop; Pummel Two Cargo Ships In Red Sea With Missiles & Drones, The Times of India, 06/08/2024
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