Two ships have been hijacked and 36 crew members have been taken hostage by Houthi militants; one ship and 11 crew members[84] remain in Houthi custody, while one ship and 25 hostages have been released. At least 30 ships have been damaged by Houthi attacks. One UK-owned and three Greek-owned cargo ships sunk.[85][86][87]
Since 2014, the Houthis, who opposeYemen's internationally recognized government, have controlled a considerable swath of the country's territory along the Red Sea. Shortly after the outbreak of the Gaza war, theHamas-allied group began to launch missiles and drones at Israel. It has also fired on merchant vessels in the Red Sea, particularly in theBab-el-Mandeb, the southern maritime gateway to theSuez Canal, damaging the global economy. The group declared that it would not stop until Israel ceased the Gaza war.[88][94]
The Houthis declared any Israel-linked ship was a target for attack,[95][92][93] including US andUK warships, but they also attacked the ships of nations with no connection to Israel.[96][97] From October 2023 to March 2024, the Houthis attacked more than 60 vessels in the Red Sea.[98] To avoid attack, hundreds of commercial vessels were rerouted tosail around South Africa.[99]
The Houthi movement is anIran-backedZaydiShia Islamist militant organization that exercisesde facto control over parts ofYemen, though it is not the country's internationally recognized government; theHouthi takeover in Yemen in 2014 resulted in the group's acquisition of the capital city ofSanaa, but the anti-HouthiPresidential Leadership Council remains recognized by the international community as Yemen's legitimate government.[103] After this conflict grew into an ongoingcivil war, millions of residents were internally displaced, and a Saudi-led coalition responded by imposing ablockade of Yemen. These combined to shrink the economy by half and contributed tofamine in Yemen since 2016, one of the worst in the world.[104][105][106]
The US military destroyed drones in Yemen's Houthi-held region and over the Red Sea due to perceived threats, exacerbating tensions in the conflict-ridden area. This comes amidst ongoing attacks by the Houthis and challenges to diplomatic efforts to end the Yemeni war.[107]
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Top: USSCarney engages with Houthi missiles in the Red Sea, 19 October 2023 Bottom (left to right): Israeli missile boat patrolling the Red Sea, 1 November 2023; Israeli aerial interception over the Red Sea, 27 October 2023
The Houthis began firing missiles and drones at Israel in October 2023, alongside other members of the Iran-ledAxis of Resistance.[119] On 19 October 2023, American warshipUSS Carney intercepted four Houthi land-attackcruise missiles and 15 drones launched towards Israel over the Red Sea.[120] On 27 October, the Houthis launched two drones targeting Israel, however they fell short of their target and instead struck Egypt, injuring six civilians inTaba.[121] Israel'sArrow 2 andArrow 3 air defense systems saw their first uses in combat on 31 October and 9 November respectively, intercepting Houthi weapons.[122]
On 18 December, the United States announced the start ofOperation Prosperity Guardian, a multinational naval protection force aiming to counter Houthi attacks on merchant vessels.[123] On 31 December, several Houthis were killed by US Navy helicopters while attempting to attack the container shipMaersk Hangzhou in the Red Sea.[124]
Top: Map of the 2024 missile strikes in Yemen Bottom (left to right): US Navy F/A-18 fighter jet taking off prior to striking Yemen; a missile launch from a US naval vessel (12 January 2024)
On 12 January 2024, the US and UK, with support from several other countries, launched a campaign of air and missile strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, codenamed Operation Poseidon Archer.[125][126] On the first day of the operation, over 60 targets were struck and five Houthis were killed.[127]
On 19 February, theEuropean Union launched Operation Aspides, a naval mission with the goal of protecting international shipping from Houthi attacks.[128]
On 30 May, the US and UK conductedstrikes against 13 Houthi targets across Yemen. The Houthis claimed that 16 civilians were killed and 40 more were injured.[129][130]
Escalation between Israel and the Houthis
On 19 July, a HouthiSamad-3 dronestruck a building inTel Aviv, killing one civilian and wounding ten others.[131] Israel responded on 20 July byconducting airstrikes on targets in the Houthi-controlled port city ofHodeidah, including an oil refinery and other infrastructure.[132] At least six people were killed and 83 others were injured.[133]
Israel againstruck Yemen on 29 September, hitting targets at the ports of Ras Isa and Hodeidah and killing several people.[134]
On 19 December, Israel struck several targets at the ports ofas-Salif, Ras Isa, and Hodeidah, as well as two power plants in Sanaa, killing nine people.[135] On 26 December, Israel struck sites inSanaa, including theSanaa International Airport, and the ports of Ras Isa and Hodeidah. The attacks killed six people and injured dozens, including aUnited Nations staffer accompanying a delegation led byWorld Health Organization directorTedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who was at the airport during the strikes.[136]
The Houthis stated that they would pause their attacks on Israel and international shipping after a ceasefire was reached between Israel and Hamas in Gaza on 16 January 2025.[137] US strikes on the Houthis also halted with the ceasefire agreement.[138] On 22 January, the 25 crew members of theGalaxy Leader, an Israel-linked vessel hijacked by the Houthis in November 2023, were released in a deal mediated by Oman.[139]
On 15 March, the US launched began a campaign of intense airstrikes against the Houthis codenamed Operation Rough Rider.[140] On the first day of the operation, dozens of airstrikes hit Houthi targets across seven provinces in Yemen, killing 53 people.[141] US president Donald Trump said that the attacks hit Houthi bases, missile systems, and leaders, and were intended to defend US shipping and military assets.[142] At least 74 people were killed ina bombing at Ras Issa port on 17 April, marking the deadliest US strike during the operation.[143] On 28 April,another strike on a detention center inSaada Governorate killed 68 African migrants and injured 47.[144]
On 6 May, the US halted its attacks on the Houthis followinga ceasefire agreement where the Houthis would no longer target American shipping. By then, the US conducted strikes on over 1,000 targets in Yemen.[145]Airwars reported that the strikes killed 224 civilians, almost double the total civilian death toll of all previous US operations in Yemen since 2002 combined.[146] The campaign cost the US over $750 million and saw the loss of sevenMQ-9 Reaper drones.[145]
On 4 May, a Houthi missile evaded Israeli air defenses and struck near a terminal of theBen Gurion Airport inTel Aviv, marking the Houthis' first direct hit near the airport; six people were lightly-to-moderately injured.[147] The following day, Israel struck targets in Hodeidah, killing four people.[148] Israel struck the Sanaa International Airport on 7 May, killing three people and destroying three airplanes belonging toYemenia.[149] The last remaining Yemenia airplane was destroyed in another strike on the airport on 28 May.[150]
During theIran–Israel war in June 2025, the Houthis coordinated their attacks on Israel with Iran, launching their first attack two days after the conflict began.[151] On 14 June, Israel attempted to assassinate Houthi chief of staffMuhammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari in Sanaa, however he survived.[152][153]
On 24 August, days after the Houthis fired acluster munition at Israel for the first time, Israel conducted several strikes in Sanaa, including on the area of thePresidential Palace. At least ten people were killed and 102 others were injured.[154] On 28 August,an Israeli strike hit a gathering of senior Houthi leaders in Sanaa, killing twelve members of the Houthi-controlledCabinet of Yemen; including prime ministerAhmed al-Rahawi,[155][156] and fatally wounding al-Ghamari.[157]
Houthi drone strike in Eilat on 24 September 2025
On 7 September, a Houthi drone struck the passenger terminal atRamon Airport.[158] On 10 September,Israeli strikes in Sanaa andAl Jawf Governorate killed 46 people and injured 165 others.[159] Thirty-one journalists were killed in an attack on a media complex in Sanaa, making it the second deadliest attack on media workers recorded by theCommittee to Protect Journalists.[160] On 18 September, a Houthi drone directly struck a hotel inEilat.[161] Another drone strike in Eilat injured 22 people, two seriously, on 24 September.[162] The following day, Israel struck several Houthi targets in Sanaa in its largest strikes in Yemen to date. Israeli defense ministerIsrael Katz claimed that "many dozens" of Houthis were killed. The Houthi health ministry said that nine people were killed and over 140 were injured.[163][164]
The Houthis paused their attacks on Israel and international shipping aftera ceasefire in Gaza was reached on 10 October, and signaled that they had halted the attacks in an undated letter to Hamas'sal-Qassam Brigades published in November 2025, but threatened to resume them if Israel broke the ceasefire.[165]
Houthi forces began attacking shipping vessels affiliated withIsrael passing through the Red Sea on 19 November 2023. By February, 40 vessels had been attacked. Global shipping companies, which had typically sailed through the Red Sea, as well as theSuez Canal, instead moved to position their vessels around theCape of Good Hope, off theCape Peninsula,South Africa.[166][167][99][168]
Between November and December 2023, a 1.3 percent decrease in global trade resulted from Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.[169] By March 2024, over 2,000 ships had diverted routes away from the Red Sea, making costlier voyages, since the first Houthi attack the previous November.[170]
Initial Houthi pledges to target any ship with links to Israel were followed by attacks on ships connected to over a dozen nations, as well, stated, in January 2024, as avenging "American-British aggression against our country".US Central Command responded that the Houthis attacks "have nothing to do with the conflict in Gaza" and that Houthis had "fired indiscriminately into the Red Sea", targeting ships, and impacting more than 40 nations.[171][172] On 3 May 2024, the Houthi-aligned Yemeni Armed ForcesSPC military spokespersonYahya Saree announced, in a televised speech, that "We will target any ships heading to Israeli ports in the Mediterranean Sea in any area we are able to reach".[101]
The Houthis and their supporters have engaged in adisinformation campaign. According to theU.S. Navy, these false claims to undermine efforts to secure "freedom of navigation" in the Red Sea and surrounding waters by the United States and its allies and to gain recognition as a regional power.[173] On 1 February 2024, the Houthis claimed an attack on a US ship namedKOI, but maritime sources toldBBC that it was false.[174] Hezbollah-affiliated news outlets such asIslam Times andAl Mayadeen have backed false claims by the Houthis. On 28 January, Islam Times released footage of the 2021X-Press Pearl fire, purporting it displayed the aftermath of a Houthi attack on a British ship. Three days later, Al Mayadeen reported that the Houthis accurately struck USS Gravely, but the claim was rejected by US officials.[175]
Social media users on platforms such asX have published old ordoctored images and videos falsely claiming them as Houthi attacks. In February 2024, users on X posted the 2018 sinking of theUSS Racine (LST-1191) and the X-Press Pearl disaster, claiming they showed the Houthi attacks on theStar Nasia andMorning Tide.[176] In June 2024, users posted satellite images of the USSDwight D. Eisenhower with damage digitally edited onto it, claiming that it was the result of a Houthi attack.[173] Other mislabeled or digitally edited photographs and videos were also published purporting damage to the aircraft carrier, though some weresatire.[177][178]
Footage from the Czech-based video gameArma 3 has also been used to spread disinformation about the conflict, with Russian websites such as The Intel Drop andPravda publishing gameplay, falsely claiming it showed attacks on the USSDwight D. Eisenhower. The video game's developers,Bohemia Interactive, said that action taken against the videos was ineffective, saying: "With every video flagged, debunked, or taken down, ten more can be uploaded each day."[173] Footage from the video game has also been misrepresented as attacks on shipping[179] and a US fighter jet being shot down by the Houthis over Sanaa.[180]
Reuters, citingunnamed Iranian sources and "a security official close to Iran", has claimed that Iranian personnel are in Yemen, working withHezbollah militants. Their role involves directing and overseeing Houthi attacks on commercial shipping. The sources also stated that Iran has escalated its provision of advanced drones, anti-ship cruise missiles, precision-strike ballistic missiles, and medium-range missiles to the Houthis, since the outbreak of the Gaza war.[3]
US officials toldSemafor that commanders and advisors from Iran'sRevolutionary Guards are currently stationed in Yemen, and are directly involved in the Houthi attacks on commercial traffic in the Red Sea. The IRGC has also stationed missile and drone trainers and operators in Yemen. TheQods Force, has overseen the transfer of the attack drones, cruise missiles, and medium-range ballistic missiles which have been used in the strikes on Red Sea and Israeli targets in recent weeks.[1]
According to Western intelligence officials, the IranianIslamic Revolutionary Guard Corps placed an intelligence gathering ship to guide Houthi attacks on ships that switch off radios and identifiers.[181] According to the Institute for the Study of War, this was likelyMVBehshad, which had replacedMV Saviz (which had been used to supply weapons and intelligence to the Houthis until it came under an Israelilimpet mine attack in April 2021).[182] TheIranian frigateAlborz later also entered the Red Sea.[183]
In July 2024, theDefense Intelligence Agency reported that the Houthis used an Iranian-made missile in their attack on the Norwegian-flaggedStrinda on 11 December 2023. Features of Iran's Tolu-4 turbojet engine, used in theirNoor missile, were found in the debris. An insurance group earlier stated that an Iranian-made missile was used after examining debris aboard the vessel.[184][185]
NBC News, citing two US officials, reported in September 2024 that Iran was directly assisting the Houthis with targeting and attacking AmericanMQ-9 Reaper drones, several of which were shot down or damaged during the Red Sea crisis. The officials did not elaborate on how Iran was helping the Houthis, but Michael Knights of the American think tankWashington Institute for Near East Policy said the Houthis received Iranian surface-to-air missiles, such as the358 andSA-2, that allowed them to improve their air defenses and target US drones.[186]
North Korea
Voice of America reported thatNorth Korea may have shipped weapons to the Houthis via Iran based onHangul writing that was found on Houthi-launched missiles.[187]
China
Two China-based companies were sanctioned by the US in 2024 for providing "dual-use materials and components needed to manufacture, maintain, and deploy an arsenal of advanced missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) against U.S. and allied interests."[188]
A report by theFoundation for Defense of Democracies stated that the Houthis were using weapons made in China for their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea in exchange for Chinese ships having safe passage through the Sea.[189] Another report from Israel's i24 News stated that China provided the Houthis with "advanced components and guidance equipment" for their missiles.[189]
In July 2024,The Wall Street Journal reported that US officials saw increasing indications that Russia was considering arming the Houthis with advanced anti-ship missiles via Iranian smuggling routes in response toUS support for Ukraine duringRussia's invasion.[192] However it did not follow through due to pushback by the US and Saudi Arabia.[193]
In August 2024,Middle East Eye, citing a US official, reported that personnel of Russia'sGRU were stationed in Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen to assist the militia's attacks on merchant ships.[194]
In October 2024,The Wall Street Journal reported that Russia had provided intelligence to the Houthis for targeting commercial ships.[195]
The Houthis have claimed they would target ships that had no military function, which would be awar crime, according toHuman Rights Watch (HRW) and others. The HRW also noted that the detention of captured crews could be considered hostage-taking if they are detained to compel a third party to do or abstain from any act as a condition for the hostage's release or safety. Hostage-taking is a violation ofinternational humanitarian law and a war crime. A statement issued by the HRW called upon the militants to "end their attacks on civilians caught in the crosshairs of their declared war on Israel."[196]
The HRW called theIsraeli strikes on Yemen in July 2024 a possible war crime since they were apparently an "indiscriminate or disproportionate attack on civilians". It also called theHouthi drone attack on Tel Aviv that occurred one day prior to the strikes a possible war crime since it deliberately or indiscriminately targeted civilians.[197][198]
Impact
Israel and Egypt
Houthi attacks have reduced shipping to Israel and local trade. Commercial shipping toEilat has almost completely ceased. Commercial ships coming from Asia to Israel, as well as some commercial ships not destined for Israel, have started to go around Africa, which makes the journey three weeks longer and more expensive.[199] By 21 December 2023, over 100 container ships had been rerouted to go around Africa, each adding around 6,000 nautical miles to the trip distance.[200]
Insurance costs for commercial ships that go through the Red Sea have increased; some Israeli ships have seen an increase of 250%, and others were unable to get any insurance.[201]
While Israelis would face delays in the supply chain and price hikes, the effects on the Egyptian economy are more severe as shipping through the Suez Canal contributes nearly $9.4 billion to the Egyptian economy which is suffering from a debt crisis made worse by trade disruptions with Israel due to the war in Gaza.[202][203]
In March, Israeli media reported that half of the workers at Eilat Port were at risk of losing their jobs after the port took a major financial hit due to the crisis in the Red Sea. TheHistadrut Labor Federation, the umbrella organization for hundreds of thousands of public sector workers, said port management announced it intended to fire half of the 120 Eilat Port employees.[204]
In July 2024, the port of Eilat declared bankruptcy and requested support from the Israeli government due to its activity decreasing by 85% due to the Yemeni blockade in the Red Sea.[205][206] In July 2025, the port's bank accounts were frozen and all operations shut down.[207][8]
The annual revenue of the Suez Canal meanwhile declined to $7.2 billion for the 2023–24 financial year, down from about $9.4 billion the previous year.[208]
Global economy
Major shipping companies suspended ship traffic through the Red Sea due to the attacks, includingMSC,[209]Maersk,[210]CMA CGM,[211]COSCO,[212]Hapag-Lloyd,[213] andEvergreen Marine Corporation.[214] On 18 December, the British multinational oil and gas companyBP also suspended all shipments through the Red Sea.[214] Maersk, which holds about 14.8% of themarket share in the globalcontainer shipping market,[215] announced on 25 December 2023 that it would resume operations soon as a result of Operation Prosperity Guardian.[216] By 30 December, Maersk had resumed Red Sea operations, but again paused them following the attacks onMaersk Guangzhou.[217] The following May, based on the second quarter of its fiscal 2024 figures, Maersk estimated a capacity loss of 15–20 percent across the industry due to the Red Sea crisis.[218]
On 12 January,Tesla said it would suspend most production from itsGrünheide factory, its only factory in Europe, for two weeks starting 29 January due to supply chain issues caused by Houthi attacks.[219][220]Volvo Cars also said it would halt production from its plant inGhent for three days starting the following week.[221]Shell plc announced a hold on "transit" through the Red Sea.[222]
On 18 December,Evergreen Marine Corporation announced it was suspending its import and export service to Israel because of risk and safety considerations.[223][224]COSCO, the fourth-largest shipping company, and its container shipping subsidiaryOOCL similarly stopping all services to Israel in early January 2024.[225]
On 21 December, the CEO of theport of Eilat said the port has seen an 85% drop in activity since the Yemeni attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.[226][224] Many ships instead took a safer route, going around Africa and theCape of Good Hope,[215] although this route incurs an extra ten days, spends more fuel, and requires more crew time.[227] The suspension of a large volume of trade through the Red Sea led to a decrease in use of theSuez Canal, and was thus a blow to the Egyptian economy.[215]
A considerable number of freighters have continued to transit, with mostly largecontainer ships diverting away rather than other shipping, with the strait continuing to be heavily used bybulk carriers andtankers which are under different contract arrangements and often from countries supportive of Gaza's situation so perceiving a minimal risk from ongoing Houthi attacks.[228][229] In the first week of January 2024 the average number of freighters active each day in the Red Sea included 105 bulk carriers and 58 tankers, down from 115 bulk carriers and 70 tankers the week before.[230] In contrast, six of the ten largest container shipping companies were largely avoiding the Red Sea,[231] with relatively few container ships transiting the Bab al-Mandeb strait from 18 December 2023.[232]
FollowingChina Ocean Shipping Company, the fourth-largest shipping company, and its container shipping subsidiaryOOCL stopping all services to Israel,[225] a senior Houthi official said in January 2024 that Chinese and Russian vessels not connected with Israel will havesafe passage.[233]
As of January 2024, mostmarine insurers require a warranty of no Israeli involvement to insure vessels for the Red Sea route, with some requiring warranties of no US or UK interest and no calls to Israeli ports in the last 12 months.[234]
Qatar has halted tankers ofliquefied natural gas through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait after US-led airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen increased risks in the strait. Considering that Qatar is Europe's second-largest supplier of LNG, the long-term suspension of exports has raised concerns as the winter season begins in Europe.[235]
On 16 January, the British multinationaloil andgas companyShell suspended all Red Sea shipments indefinitely due to attacks on commercial vessels.[236] Some ships traveling through the Red Sea began broadcasting "No contact Israel" on theirautomatic identification system in response to a Houthi request to vessels without ties to Israel.[237][230]
By February 2024, more than half of the United Kingdom's export businesses were affected by disruption to shipping in the Red Sea, with companies surveyed reporting that the costs of hiring containers increased by 300%.[238] Businesses then stated that the crisis had also caused cashflow difficulties and shortages of components on production lines.[238]
AUNCTAD analysis found that, from December 2023 to February 2024,spotcontainer rates from Shanghai to Europe rose by 256% on average, mostly due to Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping. Compare to the same period a year earlier, there were also 42% fewer cargo ships transiting the Suez Canal.[239]
In June 2024, the USDefense Intelligence Agency reported that the Houthi attacks caused a 90% decrease in container shipping through the Red Sea from December 2023 to February 2024. Additionally, the report said that 29 energy and shipping companies across 65 countries were affected and forced to change their shipping routes, most of them choosing to go around the Cape of Good Hope which adds an extra 11,000 nautical miles (20,000 km; 13,000 mi), ten days of travel, and US$1,000,000 in fuel costs to each voyage.[240][241] TheRussell Group estimated that goods worth around $1 trillion were disrupted due to Houthi attacks from October 2023 to May 2024 in the Red Sea.[242]
The number of ship passing through the Suez Canal fell from 2,068 in November 2023 to about 877 in October 2024.[243] Approximately 200 cargo ships transited the Bab el Mandeb Strait in the southern Red Sea near Yemen in February 2025 and global freight prices by March 2025 were still significantly higher than pre-Gaza War levels.[244]
Humanitarian
Houthi attacks have held up shipments containing vital aid forSudan and made it more expensive for humanitarian agencies to operate in the country, which has been the site of anongoing armed conflict that put millions at risk of famine. Sudanese director of theInternational Rescue Committee Eatizaz Yousif said the attacks made shipments which normally take one or two weeks take months to reach the country, since shipping carrying aid en route toPort Sudan has been forced to navigate around Africa, traverse through the Mediterranean, and then enter the Red Sea via the Suez Canal to reach their destination.[245]
Reactions
UN Security Council
On 10 January 2024, theUN Security Council adoptedResolution 2722. The resolution, sponsored by the US andJapan, condemned the Houthi attacks, affirmedfreedom of navigation and the right of member states to defend their ships, and demanded that the Houthis immediately release theGalaxy Leader and its crew.[246] The vote was 11–0, with four abstentions.[247] Among thepermanent five members of the Security Council, the US, UK, and France supported the resolution, andRussia andChina abstained.[247]
Israel and Egypt
In a speech at a manufacturingexposition following the incident of 27 October,President of EgyptAbdel Fattah al-Sisi urged all parties in the Gaza war to respect Egypt's sovereignty, and emphasized that theEgyptian Army was able to protect the country in case of any more attacks.[248]
In early December 2023, Israel called upon Western allies to respond to threats to maritime shipping from the Houthis; IsraeliNational Security AdvisorTzachi Hanegbi said that if threats continue, "we will act to remove this blockade."[249]TheSouthern Transitional Council reportedly said in December 2023 that it was willing to cooperate with Israel to fight against the Houthis.[250] However,Al-Islah expressed support for the Houthi response to the Gaza war, despite its opposition to Houthi actions in theYemeni Civil War.[251]
Houthi response
On 25 January 2024,Abdul-Malik al-Houthi stated, "Our battle aims to support the Palestinian people, and has no other goals," and said that the Houthi's operations would cease once food and medicine was reaching all of Gaza.[252] On 30 January, Houthi Minister of DefenceMohamed al-Atifi stated, "We are prepared for a long-term confrontation with the forces of tyranny."[253] A Houthi spokesperson stated on 4 February 2024, "When the world became alarmed by the bloodiness of what was happening against the Palestinian people,Washington was not ashamed to deny the occurrence of genocide. Anyone who can do that can easily deny the connection between what is happening in the Red Sea and Gaza."[254]
Operation Prosperity Guardian: American-led military coalition
While the US Navy has shot down Houthi rockets and missiles in the Red Sea, it has not retaliated against those firing them.[255][256] In December 2023, after discussions with allies, the US announced the creation of a multilateral naval task force of protective escorts for commercial vessels in the Bab-el-Mandeb strait andGulf of Aden region.[256] The operation, codenamedOperation Prosperity Guardian,[257] was formally launched on 23 December 2023.[227] It is similar to past operations protecting commercial vessels from attack, including in thePersian Gulf andStrait of Hormuz during the "Tanker War" of the 1980s,[256] and the ongoing maritime security operations ofCombined Task Force 153, the US Navy-led task force based inBahrain.[215] The operation has also been compared to the successful multilateral naval campaign a decade earlier to combatSomali pirates off the Horn of Africa, although the Houthis, unlike the Somali pirates, enjoy Iranian support, and better equipment and technology, such as helicopters, drones, missiles, and speedboats.[258]
Independent naval patrols for maritime security
France, Italy and India have all independently sent naval assets to the region, with theFrench frigate Languedoc intercepting drones launched from a Houthi-controlled port while Italy has sent the frigateVirginio Fasan under the Secure Mediterranean operation.[16] India has also sent twoKolkata-class destroyers to strengthen maritime security in the Red Sea.[20]
In mid-January 2024, reports indicated that pro-Palestinian demonstrators in London voiced support for Houthi militants. This occurred shortly after the UK and the US initiated strikes on Houthi targets in response to the group's assaults on ships. Some demonstrators were observed chanting slogans like, "Yemen, Yemen make us proud, turn another ship around," while others displayed signs with messages such as "Hands off Yemen", "Thanks Yemen", and "UK+US wants war. Yemen supports Palestine. Gaza wants to live".[259]
International
Bahrain: In January 2024, Bahraini KingHamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Antony Blinken discussed the Houthi attacks and reaffirmed their shared commitment to ensure freedom of navigation.[260] Bahrain was the sole Arab country to join Operation Prosperity Guardian.[261]
China: TheChinese Foreign Ministry said it was concerned about the Red Sea crisis and called for an end to the attacks.[262] China abstained from UN Security Council Resolution 2722.[263]
Denmark: Denmark voiced its support for the US and UK strikes against the Houthis and warned them to halt their attacks on commercial shipping.[264]
Djibouti: Djibouti intensifiedcoast guard patrols along the Bab-el-Mandeb amidst the crisis.[265] Djibouti Minister of Foreign AffairsMahamoud Ali Youssouf said that the attacks demonstrate "strong solidarity with the people of Palestine" and voiced support for the Houthis. Nevertheless, he called for the Houthis to end their attacks as they impacted the country's economy.[266]
France: France condemned Houthi attacks against commercial vessels and expressed its support for the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2722.[267]
Germany: Germany condemned Houthi attacks, describing them as violent and against international law. It said that the attacks are irresponsible and put the lives of crew members aboard vessels at risk.[268][269]
India: India held diplomatic talks with Iran and took measures to protect Indian exporters from the attacks, including increasing surveillance and providing protective escorts to Indian vessels.[270]
Iran: Iran voiced support for Houthi operations.[271] It also condemned the strikes on Houthis in Yemen, calling them "arbitrary" and saying that they violated international law.[272]
Italy: Italy said that the Houthi attacks must cease without triggering an armed conflict.[273]
Japan: TheMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Japan condemned Houthi intervention in freedom of navigation, and voiced support for the United States and other nations for fulfilling their responsibility in securing free and safe navigation.[274] In November 2023, Japan said it was communicating with the Houthis and Israel to secure the release of the hijackedGalaxy Leader.[275]
Russia: Russia abstained from UN Security Council Resolution 2722 and proposed amendments that would have stripped the endorsement of Operation Prosperity Guardian and recognize the Gaza war as the root cause of the attacks.[263] It also condemned the US and UK strikes on the Houthis.[276]
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia called on Iran to work towards de-escalation in the region.[277] It also urged the US to show restraint in its response to the Houthis.[278]
Somalia: Somali Ambassador to KenyaJabril Ibrahim Abdulle said that the attacks could negatively affect Somalia's economy and voiced concern over the possibility ofAl-Shabaab acquiring weapons from the Houthis via sea routes.[279]
United Arab Emirates: The UAE expressed deep concern over the consequences of the Houthi attacks and called them an "unacceptable threat".[280]
Analysis
On 7 August 2024, the head of United States naval efforts in the Middle East, Vice AdmiralGeorge Wikoff stated that the American and British approach to combat the Houthis in the Red sea crisis had failed to dissuade the Houthis and stop attacks on shipping through the region, arguing that strikes and defensive efforts had done little to change the Houthis' behaviour.[281]
A senior fellow at theHudson Institute and former Navy submariner, Bryan Clark, said that the Red Sea Crisis presented "the most sustained combat that the U.S. Navy has seen since World War II — easily, no question."[89]
On 25 April 2024, CNN reported that the Houthis’ successful targeting of US Reaper drones significantly hampered the ability of America to gain intelligence over Yemen and eliminate Houthi militant leaders while failing to secure air superiority.[282]
See also
EnglishWikisource has original text related to this article:
^Multiple sources indicate that the Iranian government has deployed military personnel toHouthi-controlled Yemen who are actively involved in attacks on commercial shipping.[1][2][3]
^abSaudi Arabia and Egypt have not joined the coalition against the Houthis, but they have shot down Houthi missiles over their own territory.
^The Houthis have claimed several attacks on ships in the Mediterranean, though none have been confirmed.[7]
^10 killed on 30–31 December,[29] 75 killed on 12–22 January,[4] 40 killed on 3–5 February,[30] 11 killed on 11 March,[31] 70 killed on 1 April,[32] 1 killed on 8 April[33]
Sanger, David E.; Barnes, Julian E.; Yee, Vivian; Rubin, Alissa J. (14 January 2024)."U.S. and Iran Wage a Proxy War"(News article).The New York Times.Archived(News article) from the original on 19 January 2024. Retrieved20 January 2024.
Plitsas, Alex; Mouton, Daniel E.; Panikoff, Jonathan; Warrick, Thomas S.; Wechsler, William F.; Fontenrose, Kirsten; Wald, Ellen (11 January 2024)."Experts react: What to know about US and UK strikes on the Houthis in Yemen"(Think tankanalysis).Washington, D.C.:Atlantic Council.Archived(Think tankanalysis) from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved23 January 2024.The challenge has long been that Iran, which provides technology and crucial parts for the Houthis' missiles and drones, will continue to urge its proxy to carry out attacks regardless of US strikes. Iran is not deterred by attacks on its proxies. But it remains to be seen what it will take to deter the Houthis from continuing to be involved in Iran's proxy war against the United States and its allies.
^"How China ended up financing the Houthis' Red Sea attacks".Politico. 28 March 2024.Archived from the original on 7 April 2024. Retrieved19 July 2024.But the vast majority of the vessels they have attacked are neither Israeli nor destined for the country. That has drawn the ire of countries in the Indian Ocean, including India and Sri Lanka...
^ab"Houthi Attacks in the Red Sea: Issues for Congress".Congressional Research Service. 12 March 2024.Archived from the original on 15 March 2024. Retrieved15 March 2024.Many Houthi attacks on commercial vessels have not appeared discriminate or linked to stated demands. Since October 17, the Houthis have attacked commercial and naval vessels more than 60 times (Figure 1)
^Salhani, Justin (18 January 2024)."Beyond the Red Sea: Who are the Houthis up against inside Yemen?".Al Jazeera.Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved6 February 2024."The majority of their arms are of Russian, Chinese or Iranian origin, but North Korean weapons and those produced in former Warsaw Pact countries are also present in the arsenal," NR Jenzen-Jones, the director of the Australian-based Armament Research Services, told Voice of America.
^Jhaveri, Ashka; Moore, Johanna; Soltani, Amin; Braverman, Alexandra; Carter, Brian (22 December 2023)."Iran Update, December 22, 2023".Institute for the Study of War.Archived from the original on 23 December 2023. Retrieved23 December 2023.
^Wells, Katherine; Rezaei, Ben; Campa, Kelly; Moore, Johanna; Kishore, Siddhant; Carter, Brian (21 March 2025)."Iran Update, March 21, 2025".Institute for the Study of War.Archived from the original on 21 March 2025.
Israel
Aspides:
Yemeni Armed Forces (SPC)
1Alvand-class frigate
3 soldiers killed[f]
Bahrain: In January 2024, Bahraini KingHamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Antony Blinken discussed the Houthi attacks and reaffirmed their shared commitment to ensure freedom of navigation.[260] Bahrain was the sole Arab country to join Operation Prosperity Guardian.[261]
China: TheChinese Foreign Ministry said it was concerned about the Red Sea crisis and called for an end to the attacks.[262] China abstained from UN Security Council Resolution 2722.[263]
Denmark: Denmark voiced its support for the US and UK strikes against the Houthis and warned them to halt their attacks on commercial shipping.[264]
Djibouti: Djibouti intensifiedcoast guard patrols along the Bab-el-Mandeb amidst the crisis.[265] Djibouti Minister of Foreign AffairsMahamoud Ali Youssouf said that the attacks demonstrate "strong solidarity with the people of Palestine" and voiced support for the Houthis. Nevertheless, he called for the Houthis to end their attacks as they impacted the country's economy.[266]
France: France condemned Houthi attacks against commercial vessels and expressed its support for the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2722.[267]
Germany: Germany condemned Houthi attacks, describing them as violent and against international law. It said that the attacks are irresponsible and put the lives of crew members aboard vessels at risk.[268][269]
India: India held diplomatic talks with Iran and took measures to protect Indian exporters from the attacks, including increasing surveillance and providing protective escorts to Indian vessels.[270]
Italy: Italy said that the Houthi attacks must cease without triggering an armed conflict.[273]
Japan: TheMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Japan condemned Houthi intervention in freedom of navigation, and voiced support for the United States and other nations for fulfilling their responsibility in securing free and safe navigation.[274] In November 2023, Japan said it was communicating with the Houthis and Israel to secure the release of the hijackedGalaxy Leader.[275]
Russia: Russia abstained from UN Security Council Resolution 2722 and proposed amendments that would have stripped the endorsement of Operation Prosperity Guardian and recognize the Gaza war as the root cause of the attacks.[263] It also condemned the US and UK strikes on the Houthis.[276]
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia called on Iran to work towards de-escalation in the region.[277] It also urged the US to show restraint in its response to the Houthis.[278]
Somalia: Somali Ambassador to KenyaJabril Ibrahim Abdulle said that the attacks could negatively affect Somalia's economy and voiced concern over the possibility ofAl-Shabaab acquiring weapons from the Houthis via sea routes.[279]
United Arab Emirates: The UAE expressed deep concern over the consequences of the Houthi attacks and called them an "unacceptable threat".[280]
