Yemen’s Iran backed Houthi militants have intensified attacks on Israel-linked ships, leading major container freight companies to temporarily suspend vessel routes through the Red Sea. This poses a threat to a crucial trade route for Israeli imports and exports between the Far East and Europe. Since the onset of the conflict between Israel and the Hamas terror group on October 7, the Houthis (Ansar Allah) have been launching drone and missile attacks on ships affiliated with Israel in the Red Sea.
The Houthi militant group, aligned with Iran and controlling much of northern Yemen, has declared itself part of the “axis of resistance” alongside Iran-affiliated groups. In recent days, as a display of solidarity with Hamas, the Houthi forces have issued threats to attack ships with Israeli ownership or those headed for Israeli ports until Israel ceases its military actions. Iran backed Houthi
The indiscriminate threat prompted two more major shipping firms, Mediterranean Shipping Company and CMA CGM, on Saturday to cease passage through the Red Sea maritime corridor and Egypt’s Suez Canal, putting Israel’s international trade as well as global trade at risk.
Following a ballistic missile strike by Houthi militants on a cargo ship near the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea, Danish shipping giant Maersk and German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd announced similar decisions on Friday. The incident prompted these major freight companies to temporarily suspend sending their vessels through the Red Sea, underscoring the escalating risks associated with the maritime routes in the region.