Shipping operators must declare information to avoid Houthi attacks in the Red Sea

Shipping operators have been forced to declare information to avoid attacks by Houthi forces in Yemen in the Red Sea.

A cargo ship (right) was seized by Houthi forces on its way to the port of Hodeida province (Yemen) off the Red Sea, November 22, 2023. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

Saudi Arabia's Arab News reported on January 20 that shipping operators posted notices on maritime monitoring websites saying they had no contact with Israel before their ships entered the Red Sea to avoid attacks by Houthi forces in Yemen in this sea area.

The Houthis have said they will not target ships passing through the Red Sea, the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait or the Gulf of Aden, provided the ships notify their destinations in advance or declare on maritime traffic monitoring sites that they have no ties to Israel.

Arab News witnessed at least two ships docking at Djibouti which had previously posted notices on their website "Marinetraffic.com" stating that they "have no ties to Israel"; before entering Egypt's Suez Canal through the Red Sea.

Since November 2023, the Houthis have seized a commercial vessel and carried out more than 20 drone and missile attacks on commercial and naval vessels passing through the Red Sea, the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden. The Houthis say they only target Israeli or Israel-bound vessels in an attempt to force Israel to lift its blockade of the Gaza Strip.

Faced with security risks and threats to shipping through the Red Sea, the US established a coalition of special forces in this sea. Subsequently, US forces, together with the UK, conducted dozens of airstrikes on military targets in Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen. The US also put the Houthis back on the list of terrorist groups, three years after Washington removed them from the list under pressure from various international organizations.

VNA

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