EU Mission Warns of New Houthi Threat in the Red Sea: Details
29 March 12:07
The EU naval mission Aspides has warned of the threat of attacks by the pro-Iranian Houthi movement on international shipping in the Red Sea and the eastern part of the Gulf of Aden. Ships in the area may once again come under attack, the mission said on Sunday, March 29. Shipping companies whose vessels are in the region are advised to exercise extreme caution, writes "Komersant Ukrainian", citing DW.
The day before, the Houthi movement resumed missile strikes on Israel, thereby joining the war for Iran launched by the U.S. and Israel a month ago. The group, allied with Tehran, announced on the evening of March 28 that it had carried out its second airstrike on Israel since entering the conflict. According to Houthi representative Yahya Saria, “missiles and drones” were fired at “several important military targets” within Israel. Earlier that same day, the group had already fired one missile at Israel—it was intercepted.
Iran has blocked the Strait of Hormuz
Since the start of the war, Iran has been blocking the Strait of Hormuz—a strategically important route for the global oil and gas market. Energy prices have skyrocketed as a result. Now, according to the Aspides mission, shipping through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden may also be at risk. Ships associated with Israel or the U.S. are advised to avoid transiting through this area whenever possible.
The Houthis have repeatedly attacked merchant ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden in the past. These waters are considered one of the most important trade routes in the world—they lie between northeastern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula and form a key link between the Mediterranean Sea (via the Suez Canal) and the Indian Ocean (via the Bab el-Mandeb Strait).
