U.S. and British warplanes have been regularly striking Houthi targets in Yemen for nearly a month, but that campaign still “cannot ensure safe passage” for commercial ships sailing through the Red Sea, according to a leading maritime intelligence firm.
A “threat update” from the intel firm Ambrey earlier this week said that the American-led offensive against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels has clearly had an impact. But the analysts said that the continued Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and other regional waterways underscore the serious danger that remains to one of the world’s most shipping passages.
“The subsequent mobilization of international navies has been unprecedented, but they have been unable to suppress all threats, and the Houthi capability to attack merchant shipping, aided by Iran, remains largely in place,” Ambrey analysts wrote in their assessment. “So far, the attacks have not caused any injuries, but several vessels have been structurally damaged, and the strikes have caused serious fires.”
The Houthis have launched about 40 attacks on commercial and military ships over the past several months. Houthi leaders have said their campaign is retaliation toward Israel for its war with Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, though many of the ships targeted seemingly have no connection to Jerusalem.
The U.S. and Britain responded to those attacks on Jan. 11 with the first round of strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen, where the rebel group controls much of the country, including the capital, Sanaa. U.S. and British attacks have continued regularly since then. On Monday, for example, U.S. Central Command said it destroyed two Houthi vehicles on the ground in Yemen believed to pose an imminent threat to U.S. Navy and commercial vessels.
“These actions will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy vessels and merchant vessels,” CENTCOM said in a statement after the attack.
Still, the Houthis have continued to fire anti-ship missiles and launch attack drones toward ships in the region.