Houthi militants signal new attacks as US deploys aircraft carrier, raising alarms over commercial shipping safety in the Red Sea.
Iran-backed Houthi militias operating in Yemen have signaled new attacks coinciding with the United States' preparations to deploy an aircraft carrier to the Gulf region. As a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group moves towards the Gulf, one of the biggest threats to commercial shipping in recent years has resurfaced.
A video released by the Houthis last night, titled 'Coming Soon,' has been interpreted as a sign that the group is preparing to resume attacks on commercial vessels. The footage is seen as a harbinger of a new wave of tension along the Red Sea route, which has been relatively calm for an extended period.
Container shipping expert Lars Jensen announced that the shipping crisis in the Red Sea will enter its 800th day tomorrow. Jensen has been tracking Houthi activities daily via LinkedIn. The Houthis had launched a campaign of attacks on commercial vessels in November 2023, citing support for the war that began between Israel and Hamas.
The Houthi militias officially announced the cessation of attacks on commercial vessels at the beginning of November. The last confirmed attack occurred on September 29 of the previous year against the cargo ship Minervagracht, registered in the Netherlands.
Houthi attacks have resulted in the deaths of at least nine sailors and the sinking of four commercial vessels. These attacks redirected global maritime trade from the Suez Canal to longer routes via the Cape of Good Hope. This shift has increased ton-mile demand and freight rates.
In recent weeks, an increase in vessel traffic through the Suez Canal had been observed thanks to a long-term ceasefire by the Houthis. However, the recently released video has raised serious doubts about whether this improvement will be permanent.
The United States has decided to send an aircraft carrier strike group to the Gulf region due to rising tensions with Iran. This development comes months after U.S. forces attacked three nuclear facilities in Iran during a 12-day war between Israel and Iran.
U.S. President Donald Trump had openly supported anti-government protests in Iran earlier in the year, sending a message to protesters that 'Help is on the way' against the security forces' intervention. However, after the protests were suppressed, the Trump administration adopted a more cautious tone.
Confirming the latest military deployment, Trump stated, 'We are closely monitoring Iran. A significant force is moving towards Iran. We are sending a large fleet to that region, and we will see how things develop.'
U.S. officials announced that the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier group, which includes Arleigh Burke-class destroyers equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles and Aegis air and missile defense systems, has been directed from the South China Sea to the Middle East. The aircraft carrier group reportedly entered the Arabian Sea during the night.
A senior Iranian politician stated earlier in the year that any military attack by the U.S. on Tehran would make international commercial shipping a legitimate target.
It is known that Iran has previously targeted commercial vessels, jammed automatic identification systems, and occasionally detained ships and their crews.
On Friday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control announced new sanctions against nine clandestine fleet vessels and their owners or managing companies due to their connections with Iran.
Experts warn that with the military activity in the region and the Houthis resurfacing, the risks to maritime shipping along the Red Sea and Gulf routes may increase again.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
