Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Houthi Attacks on Red Sea Shipping Are Out of News But Not Over

 War on the Rocks published on 23 April 2024 an analysis titled "Solving the Houthi Threat to Freedom of Navigation" by Allison Minor, Brookings Institution.  

Although Houthi attacks from Yemen on international shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden have faded from the news cycle, the threat is unlikely to go away soon and continues to interrupt commerce in the region.  The international response has not reassured commercial actors to resume major shipping activity in the Red Sea.

An end to the war in Gaza, the Houthis stated reason for initiating the attacks, will not likely end them.  The Houthis demand access to additional Yemeni oil and gas resources in order to strengthen their control over northern Yemen.  An UN-backed political process for dealing with the conflict in Yemen may be the best way out of this conundrum.