Houthi rebels have recently declared an escalation in their attacks on merchant ships, reversing their earlier decision in May to suspend assaults on commercial shipping.
Although they had announced a halt, the group had already resumed attacks in early July, sinking two bulk carriers in the Red Sea. The Greek-owned MV Magic Seas came under gunfire and a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attack, while the MV Eternity C, a Liberia-flagged vessel carrying aid, was destroyed by sea drones and RPGs the following day.
In their most recent statement, the Houthis vowed to target ships belonging to companies that engage in trade with Israel, regardless of the ship’s nationality. This is widely interpreted to mean that vessels which do not dock in Israeli ports could still be at risk if the carrier calls at those ports on other routes.
This announcement is framed as a response to the ongoing situation in Gaza and significantly heightens the risks for vessels operating in the Red Sea. Major shipping lines such as Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM, Yang Ming, and ONE now face an elevated threat of being targeted and have been urged to navigate the region with “extreme caution.”
Asia-European vessel diversions around the Cape Of Good Hope look set to continue for some time.