Russia reportedly assisted Houthi rebels in Yemen in targeting shipping through the Red Sea, as per a Wall Street Journal report. The targeting data for ships with missiles and drones was provided earlier this year by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps based in Yemen. The newspaper cited sources who were familiar with the matter and European defense officials.
The attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis on commercial shipping in the Red Sea began shortly after the October 7 terrorist attacks by Hamas in Israel. The Houthis expressed solidarity with Palestinian efforts for an independent state, leading to naval coalition responses by U.S. and British forces, who bombed Houthi targets in Yemen.
The attacks forced ocean carriers to reroute container and tanker vessels around the Cape of Good Hope off the coast of Africa instead of using the Suez Canal. This resulted in longer voyages and higher shipping rates, benefiting companies like Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd. Reports mention casualties and ships sunk in Houthi attacks over the past year, with one vessel and its crew remaining hijacked since November 2023.
The Wall Street Journal report came after a BRICS summit involving Russia, China, India, and Iran, where Russian President Vladimir Putin warned of the Middle East being on the verge of war due to Israel’s expected response to a ballistic missile attack by Iran. The conflict in Gaza began with a Hamas invasion of southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
For more articles by Stuart Chirls, visit the provided link. Related coverage includes Hapag-Lloyd revising earnings forecast due to Red Sea disruptions, FEMA awarding a security grant to Port of Long Beach, and Maersk benefiting from a strong ocean container market.
