Houthi strikes continue to terrorise merchant shipping

The Houthis continue to terrorise merchant ships heading in and out of the Red Sea, while also claiming strikes at ships moored at Israel’s Haifa port.

The Houthis claimed to have struck the Transworld Navigator bulk carrier twice in the space of 24 hours today in the Red Sea, using drones. The ship has suffered damages while a number of crew were injured in the strikes. In the Indian Ocean, meanwhile, the Stolt Sequoia product tanker came under fire from a number of missiles yesterday.

The Houthis also claimed carrying out a joint military operation with an Iranian-backed Iraqi militia, known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, to target four vessels in Israel’s Haifa port on Saturday, although there has been no confirmation of this from the Israeli side.

The Houthis have upped their attacks over the past 10 days both in terms of numbers and sophistication.

Fourteen of the world’s largest shipping associations issued a release last week, asking for help from states with influence in the region.

“This is an unacceptable situation, and these attacks must stop now,” the release stated, adding: “We call for States with influence in the region to safeguard our innocent seafarers and for the swift de-escalation of the situation in the Red Sea.”

Many shipping analysts in recent weeks – including from Jefferies, Cleaves and Bank of America – have predicted the ongoing Red Sea shipping crisis will continue into the first half of next year.