The hijacking of the Galaxy Leader ship by Houthi militants in Yemen has created a new situation for shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden region.
The present situation threatens to have both geopolitical and economic ramifications.
The daring raid, carried out by well-trained helicopter commandos, was the first of its type. It is fundamentally different from the attacks by Somali pirates that occurred in the first two decades of the new millennium and have reduced drastically since NATO military activities in the region.
The difference is that behind the new attack is a well-organized force that is a "state within a state." We're talking about the Houthis, or "believing students," as the rebels are known. They have an army of roughly 250,000 militants and are at war with the Saudi-led coalition. The battle, which began in 2015, has claimed the lives of at least 377,000 individuals, the vast majority of whom were civilians. The humanitarian tragedy is far from over, despite the fact that the Houthis already control a substantial portion of Yemen's territory, including the capital Sana'a.
The insurgents have now made an international appearance by capturing a huge cargo ship with a multinational crew that includes two Bulgarian citizens. The ship is owned by a well-known Israeli billionaire. Following the kidnapping, the Houthis' top negotiator and spokesman, Mohammed Abdul-Salam, stated that the Israelis only knew the "language of force." "The detention of the Israeli ship is a practical step that proves the seriousness of the Yemeni armed forces in waging the naval battle, regardless of its cost," he said. He added: "This is the beginning."
Japan, the United States, and European Union countries all criticised the abduction. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno stated that the Japanese government was doing everything possible to achieve the crew's early release through talks with the rebels, as well as speaking with Israel and coordinating with the governments of Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Iran.
The action is believed to be directed at Israel and its efforts against Hamas terrorists who treasonously invaded the Jewish state on October 7, killing numerous innocent citizens and kidnapping at least 240 others who are still missing in Gaza. Many experts interpreted the Houthis' actions as an opportunity to build a new front against Israel and the West, albeit they doubt that the Red Sea is suited for the deployment of such a front.
Other commentators note that the Houthi attack bears many similarities to Iran's actions in the Persian Gulf. The Islamic Republic has significant interests represented by the Behshad ship. This cargo ship has been turned into a base of operations, presumably for espionage. According to experts, it is quite likely that she provided intelligence to the Houthis.
The Yemeni rebels' activities come at a critical juncture at which Israel has managed to negotiate a truce and the return of some of the prisoners captured. The kidnapping attempts to exacerbate anti-Israel sentiment among Muslims in the region, which has grown exponentially since Israel's war on terror in Gaza began.
The Houthis are particularly dangerous since they do not represent a state but rather a religious force. Most countries have begun to normalise their relations with Israel. Thus, in 2020, Bahrain and the UAE signed the so-called Abraham Accords; something similar should occur between Jerusalem and Riyadh. The Hamas attack put an end to this. Iran is utilising the Houthis as non-state actors to disrupt shipping and escalate the conflict in Gaza, pushing it into the waters, causing major damage to the global community in the form of growing transportation costs for products and cargo.
Only a few days after the attack have we seen the first results: a shift in the marine itineraries of ships sailing under Israeli flags or controlled by Israeli businesspeople.
According to data from the British maritime security firm Ambrey, two merchant ships have already changed course in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, heading to safer areas. Other ships will undoubtedly follow in their footsteps.
Because thousands of ships and about half of the provided oil, petroleum products, and natural gas transit along Yemen's coast, freedom of navigation is significantly violated; this is already a serious concern for the world economy.
If the Houthi attacks continue, threatening and affecting not only ships heading for Israel, this would result in greater expenses and disruption of supply lines, which will not bode well for the world economy, which is in a state of flux as a result of the covid epidemic. Inflation and the energy crisis are two major issues. /BGNES
This article was created by the BGNES Agency's International Department.
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