The Houthi Challenge to Maritime Security

On November 19, 2023, Houthi forces in Yemen began attacking shipping vessels passing through the Red Sea. These attacks, which the group claims were launched in response to Israel’s war on Hamas after the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, have disrupted international trade on the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia. Since then, more than 40 vessels have been attacked, and major shipping carriers, which usually sail via the Red Sea and Suez Canal, have responded by transiting their fleets around the Cape of Good Hope. Despite the United States and five of its allies launching strikes against the Houthis to deter them and degrade their capabilities, repeated attacks in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden have shown that Houthi capabilities remain strong.   

The Houthi leadership has declared the group’s objective is to force an end to the war in Gaza and secure humanitarian aid deliveries to the Palestinians living there. Is there any certainty that the Houthis would stop their attacks if the war in Gaza ended, or do the Houthis benefit from an escalation of the conflict? Will the Houthis seek to leverage their disruptive potential in the Red Sea in their ongoing negotiations with Saudi Arabia? Do the Houthis’ actions echo pro-Palestinian sentiment among the Yemeni population and broaden their appeal among Yemenis? What is Iran’s role in supporting the Houthis and enabling their attacks? Is there a credible military option that will guarantee a cessation of Houthi attacks? Finally, what other options are available to the United States and its allies as they seek to ensure the safe transit of goods through the Bab el-Mandeb? 

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