The Houthis' impact on the world economy is causing ripple effects. Cruise ships are now rerouting around the southern tip of Africa via the Cape of Good Hope — adding 10 extra days to their journey from the Red Sea.
This change is driving up the cost of shipping a regular 40-foot container from Asia to northern Europe — skyrocketing from less than USD1,500 in mid-December to nearly $5,500. Shipping Asian cargoes to the Mediterranean has become even more expensive — reaching almost $6,800 compared to $2,400 in mid-December, as reported by the freight booking platform Freightos.
Why all of a sudden Yemen-based Houthis have started taking over Israeli-linked commercial vessels? The Houthis want to pressure Israel and its allies to stop the genocide which has already killed 29,000 Palestinians.
The group came into existence in the 1990s, deriving its name from the late founder of the movement — Hussein al-Houthi whose brother Abdul Malik al-Houthi is the current leader.
In 2014, the Houties gained power by rebelling against Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. They declared themselves part of the Iranian-led ‘axis of resistance’ against Israel, the US, and the broader West. However, analysts caution against viewing the Zaidi Shia armed group solely as an Iranian proxy as they have their own ambitions.
The events in September 2014, referred to as the September 21 Revolution by supporters or a coup d'état by opponents, led to the resignation and fleeing of the then-president. The Houties seized control of the capital city. The ongoing civil war escalated further as Saudi Arabia intervened with airstrikes and a naval blockade to reinstate Hadi's government. Riyadh's attempt to establish a pro-Saudi Yemeni government proved unsuccessful, and now Saudi Arabia seeks a peace deal with the Houties.
The Houthis' control over 70 per cent of Yemen, spanning from the capital city Sanaa, and the northwest to the Red Sea coastline. They gained popularity, even entering Saudi Arabian territories through Saada province in 2009 before being pushed back. Now, they operate a de facto government, collecting taxes and issuing currency.
Before 2023, the Houthis targeted airports and oil facilities in Saudi Arabia and launched drone and rocket attacks on the UAE in 2022. This raises a crucial question: has Iran been supporting the Houthis throughout, given the challenge of fighting a war against powerful Muslim nations allied with the USA — Saudi Arabia and the UAE?
The answer is nuanced. While Iran supports the Houties politically, they deny sending weapons. Although the Houties align with Iran's partners in resisting Israel, they differ from them, according to Stephen Zunes, a professor at the University of San Francisco.
Before Saudi Arabia's invasion, Iran had no influence. While the Houthis appreciated the support, it's crucial to note that they do not take orders from Tehran.
“Even if America succeeds in mobilizing the entire world, our military operations will not stop … no matter the sacrifices it costs us,” Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a senior Houthi official wrote on X.
The Houthis have explicitly stated their objective — putting pressure on Israel to cease the killing of Palestinians.
Yahya Sarea, the Houthi military spokesperson, conveyed in an official statement: "In support of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip facing ongoing aggression and blockade, and in response to the American-British aggression against our country, the naval forces of the Yemeni [Houthi] armed forces executed a targeted military operation in the Gulf of Aden against a British ship, the Rubymar, using appropriate naval missiles."
In a December interview, Mohammed Abdulsalam, the Houthi chief negotiator and spokesperson, emphasized to Al Jazeera, "We've made it clear that [Houthi] operations are in support of the Palestinian people in Gaza, and we cannot stand idly by in the face of aggression and siege."
Since November of last year, the Houthis have consistently targeted ships in the Red Sea and its nearby waters. In reaction, US and UK warplanes have conducted retaliatory strikes throughout Yemen. The EU has officially intervened by initiating the Red Sea naval mission, with France, Germany, Italy, and Belgium expressing their intent to contribute ships.
Ursula is the European Commission President and shared this on X.