The Red Sea is still between fires. Attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels against vessels bound for or linked to Israel persist, as well as those linked to the US-led coalition in the region. Washington, in response, launched a new series of attacks against Shiite militiamen in the country last night.
“At approximately 11:59 p.m. Sanaa time,” the Houthi-dominated Yemeni capital, U.S. forces carried out a dozen attacks on missile launch platforms “that pose a threat to merchant vessels and shipping vessels.” the US Navy,” the US Central Command was quoted as saying on social media.
A few hours earlier, that same US central command had confirmed that a bulk ship, the Genco Picardy, sailing under the flag of the Marshall Islands, but owned by a company based in the American giant, had suffered a missile attack in the Gulf of Aden without causing any injuries. She was able to continue browsing after the attack.
The Houthis, “backed by Iran,” continue to “endanger” international ships and continue to “disrupt” commercial shipping routes in the south of the strait, explains Washington. Hours earlier he declared the Shiite group “terrorist.”
Freedom of navigation in the area continues to become more complicated, ships avoid the area and head around Africa to reach Europe, and the consequences for prices and supplies are greater both in Europe and in the many countries that depend on trade in the area. Red Sea. Like Jordan, with a single port, Aqaba, on the Red Sea, or Egypt, largely dependent on the income it obtains from the passage of ships through the Suez Canal.
The strait, now blocked, is estimated to concentrate 15% of the world’s merchant traffic under normal conditions.
