The Houthi movement, also known as Ansar Allah, has conducted a series of attacks on commercial and naval vessels in the Red Sea, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden since late 2023. Houthi officials have stated the actions are a response to Israel’s military operations in Gaza and are aimed at vessels with links to Israel, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The attacks have disrupted global trade routes and prompted a military response from the U.S. and its allies.
Using a combination of anti-ship ballistic missiles, drones, and small boats, Houthi forces have targeted dozens of vessels navigating the critical waterway, which handles a significant portion of global maritime trade. In a statement released in November 2023, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree announced their forces would target any ships associated with Israel, declaring, “we will not hesitate to target any ship belonging to the Zionist enemy or that deals with it.” Since then, the group has expanded its stated targets to include ships affiliated with the U.S. and U.K. following airstrikes by those nations.
One notable incident occurred in November 2023 when Houthi forces seized the Galaxy Leader, a vehicle carrier with ties to an Israeli businessman. The crew has since been held in Yemen.
In response to the maritime attacks, the United States formed a multinational naval coalition in December 2023 named Operation Prosperity Guardian. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said the mission was established to ensure freedom of navigation and protect commercial shipping. The U.S. and the U.K., with support from other nations, have since carried out multiple rounds of airstrikes on Houthi military targets inside Yemen. U.S. Central Command has issued statements identifying targets such as missile launchers, air defense systems, and radar sites.
The security situation has led major international shipping companies, including Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, and MSC, to suspend transits through the Red Sea. Instead, vessels are being rerouted around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, a journey that adds thousands of miles and can increase transit times by one to two weeks. The rerouting has raised shipping costs and insurance premiums, according to maritime industry reports.
These events occur against the backdrop of a multi-year conflict in Yemen, where the Houthis have been fighting a Saudi-led coalition that intervened in 2015. While a fragile truce has largely held between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi movement, the broader regional tensions remain. Saudi officials have publicly called for restraint in the Red Sea. The situation continues to develop as Houthi forces persist with attacks and international naval patrols remain active in the region.
