An Analysis of the Houthi Red Sea Blockade

 Chatham House published on 24 July 2026 an analysis titled "The Houthi Red Sea Blockade: Will Collective Maritime Security Be Defended or Break Down?" by Nitya Labh and Farea Al-Muslimi.

The rebel Houthis are part of Iran's "Axis of Resistance" but retain significant autonomy.  The Houthi blockade of Saudi ships in the Red Sea acts as a deterrent against regional adversaries and reinforces their legitimacy in Yemen.

The Houthi objective is not to sink large numbers of ships, but to create enough uncertainty for commercial shipping that insurers raise premiums, companies reroute vessels, and governments absorb mounting economic costs.

Houthi Red Sea Attacks; US Considers Cease Fire Still in Effect

 The Wall Street Journal published on 10 July 2025 an article titled "Two Ships Desperately Tried to Fight Off Houthi Attacks. Help Never Arrived" by Benoit Faucon and Lara Seligman.  

The article includes dramatic video coverage of two Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned ships that Houthi rebels sank this week in the Red Sea.  These attacks came two months after the United States announced a ceasefire with the Houthis following airstrikes on their positions in Yemen. 

A senior US Defense Department official said Washington still considers the ceasefire to be in place so long as the Houthis are not firing at American ships.  

Houthi Attack Sinks Ship in Red Sea

 CNN posted on 10 July 2025 an article titled "10 Rescued, 4 Killed and Others 'Kidnapped' after Houthis Sink Ship in Second Red Sea Attack in a Week" by Mostafa Salam.

The Houthi attack on the Liberian-flagged and Greek-owned Eternity C resulted in the death of 4 out of the 25 crew.  European Union personnel rescued 10 while the Houthis apparently kidnapped others.  The article includes a dramatic one-minute video of the ship sinking provided by the Houthi Media Center.

Houthi Red Sea Attacks and Trump Administration Response

 Reuters published on 25 March 2025 an article titled "What Are the US and Europe Doing to Counter Houthi Strikes in the Red Sea?"

The article looks at the steps taken by Europe and the Biden administration to counter Houthi attacks in the Red Sea since they began more than a year ago.  It updates the situation following the most recent strikes against the Houthis by the Trump administration.  

Shipuniverse.com published on 26 March 2025 an article titled "Red Sea Tensions Disrupt Global Shipping as Houthi Attacks Intensify."

The article explains the impact of Houthi attacks on international shipping and the way forward following the US air strikes against the Houthis in Yemen.

Houthi Attacks on Red Sea Shipping in 2025

 The Washington Institute for Near East Policy published on 16 December 2024 an analysis titled "Houthi Shipping Attacks: Patterns and Expectations for 2025" by Noam Raydan and Farzin Nadimi. 

A ceasefire in Gaza could pave the way for a diplomatic solution to the Houthi Red Sea crisis.  On the other hand, a tough policy towards Iran by the Trump administration could result in more attacks on commercial shipping in the region.  

Efforts to Prevent Oil Spill Disaster in Red Sea

 The Royal United Services Institute published on 1 October 2024 an analysis titled "Sounion Attack Brings Red Sea Shipping Crisis Back to the Fore" by Stavros Karamperidis.

The Houthi attack in the Red Sea on a Greek-flagged oil tanker, the Sounion, with 922,000 barrels of Iraqi crude has revived concerns about an environmental disaster.  The Sounion, which is still on fire, has been towed to the Eritrean coast where efforts are underway to extinguish the fires.  The Houthis agreed to the salvage operation once they realized the damage the Sounion could do to Yemen's coast.  

qCaptain published on 2 October 2024 an article titled "M/T Sounion Continues to Burn as Houthi Attacks Resume in Red Sea" by Mike Schuler.

This article provides an updated account of the Sounion salvage operation and a Houthi attack on another oil tanker.  

Yemen's Houthi Rebels Target Greek Ships

 Reuters published on 3 October 2024 an article titled "Houthis' Email Alert to Red Sea Ships: Prepare for Attack, with Best Regards" by Renee Maltezou and Jonathan Saul. 

Yemen's Houthi rebels sent on 2 October to at least six Greek shipping companies an email warning that their ships travelling through the Red Sea are at risk of attack, as if they did not already know that.  The Houthis have conducted about 100 attacks on ships in the Red Sea, sunk two, and seized another.  Almost 30 percent of the attacks have been against Greek ships.  The Houthis claim they are only attacking ships with ties to Israel, the United States, and United Kingdom, although this is clearly not the case.  

The Associated Press published on 1 October 2024 an article titled "Yemen's Houthi Rebels Launch Drone Boat that Hits Ship in Red Sea as Missile Strikes Another" by Jon Gambrell.

The Houthis attacked and hit with a drone boat on 1 October a Panamanian-flagged vessel in the Red Sea and fired a missile at a Liberian-flagged ship.

Do Yemen's Houthis Really Want a Major Oil Spill on Their Coast?

 The Associated Press published on 30 August 2024 an article titled "Houthi Video Shows the Yemeni Rebels Planted Bombs on Tanker Now Threatening Red Sea Oil Spill" by Jon Gambrell.

Yemen's Houth rebels boarded and placed bombs on a Greek-flagged oil tanker they had previously attacked and disabled in the Red Sea.  The Houthis are now able to sink the ship, releasing its million barrels of oil and causing an environmental catastrophe in sensitive waters.  The question is why they would want to endanger their own shoreline.

Houthis Set Greek Tanker Ablaze in Red Sea

 The Associated Press published on 26 August 2024 an article titled "Greek-flagged Tanker Is Burning after Houthi Attacks, But No Sign of Oil Spill" by Jon Gambrell.

The Houthis attacked and set ablaze a Greek-flagged oil tanker in the Red Sea.  It poses an environmental danger as the Houthis appear determined to sink the ship.  A French destroyer attached to the EU's Operation Aspides rescued the 25 Filipino and Russian crew members.