On Wednesday, AlertsUSA subscribers were informed of a joint statement issued simultaneously by the U.S. and 11 other nations (Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the UK) effectively warning the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen to cease their attacks on vessels in the Red Sea or face potential military action.
At least 23 attacks on shipping have carried out in response to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza just since Dec. 19th, using unmanned aerial vehicles, small boats, and missiles, including anti-ship ballistic missiles.
The final paragraph of the joint statement:
"Let our message now be clear: we call for the immediate end of these illegal attacks and release of unlawfully detained vessels and crews. The Houthis will bear the responsibility of the consequences should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, and free flow of commerce in the region’s critical waterways. We remain committed to the international rules-based order and are determined to hold malign actors accountable for unlawful seizures and attacks."
The only Middle Eastern country to sign on to the statement was Bahrain.
One day after the release of the joint statement, the Houthis launched an unmanned surface vehicle packed with explosives towards US Navy and commercial vessels, but it detonated over a mile away from the ships.
And one day after that incident, Danish shipping giant Maersk announced it will continue rerouting its ships around the Cape of Good Hope for the “foreseeable future.”
According to a statement by Maersk:
“The situation is constantly evolving and remains highly volatile, and all available intelligence at hand confirms that the security risk continues to be at a significantly elevated level. We have therefore decided that all Maersk vessels due to transit the Red Sea / Gulf of Aden will be diverted south around the Cape of Good Hope for the foreseeable future."
Readers are reminded that ~15% of global trade transits the Red Sea and Suez Canal annually, and there is only one other way for vessels to get from the Indian Ocean to the Med. That 4,500 mile trip around the southern tip of Africa adds up to four weeks for cargo delivery, is considerably more expensive, and the impact is felt globally.
A Houthi military spokesperson framed these attacks as part of their ongoing campaign targeting all commercial maritime traffic headed to or affiliated with Israel.
AlertsUSA continues to monitor the overall domestic and international threat environment and will immediately notify service subscribers, via SMS messages and email, of breaking incidents of national significance, as well as any new alerts, warnings or advisories impacting the overall threat picture for American citizens, as events warrant. |
