Houthis widen ship targets

It has been another weekend of heightened fear for seafarers transiting the Red Sea.

On Saturday, Yemen’s Houthi movement said they would target all ships heading to Israel, regardless of their nationality, and warned all international shipping companies against dealing with Israeli ports. 

The Houthis have attacked and seized several Israeli-linked ships in the Red Sea in recent weeks in reaction to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. The US has been discussing creating a naval convoy with allies, while also seeking out ways to limit Houthis’ access to cash. 

“If Gaza does not receive the food and medicine it needs, all ships in the Red Sea bound for Israeli ports, regardless of their nationality, will become a target for our armed forces,” a Houthi spokesperson said.

On Saturday, the French Navy issued a statement reporting that a multipurpose frigate, FS Languedoc, intercepted two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The same day, a Panama-flagged, Seychelles-owned tanker was hailed by Yemeni forces, initially pretending to be the US Navy, to divert course toward Hodeida, Yemen. The tanker was then warned it faced being attacked if it did not comply. A coalition naval ship advised the tanker to alter course and increase speed. It proceeded towards its destination in Egypt. 

Also on Saturday, a Cook Islands-flagged chemical/products tanker sighted a total of four UAVs offshore Aden, Yemen. According to UK maritime security firm Ambrey, the tanker was transiting northwest through Bab Al Mandab strait when crew onboard observed flying objects emitting red and green blinking lights. Crew observed one object initially flying over the bow of the vessel and three objects flying parallel to the bow of the vessel within the next hour. 

All merchant vessels in the southern Red Sea are advised by Ambrey to reduce crew movement on deck and bridge manning to a minimum.