WHO ARE THE HOUTHIS AND WHY ARE THEY SUCH A THREAT?

Houthi attacks are having a major effect on global supply chains which today are highly orchestrated.

Nine weeks ago today, the crew of the Bahamas flagged ship Galaxy Leader, a 22 year-old vehicles carrier, had an unpleasant surprise. Made up of nationals from Bulgaria, Ukraine, the Philippines, Mexico and Romania, the 25 crew members found themselves surrounded by gun toting Yemeni terrorists, known as the Houthis, as the ship made its way up the Red Sea. The captain was ordered at gunpoint to take the ship to the port of Hodeidah in the Houthis controlled north of Yemen, where it still lies at anchor.

This incident started a series of events involving attacks on more than 25 vessels that have caused the amount of shipping through the Red Sea to nosedive. Huge companies, such as Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd and Mediterranean Shipping Company, have decided to suspend travel along that route. Last week the UK oil major Shell also decided to suspend all shipment through the Red Sea indefinitely. Analysis by the German economic institute IfW Kiel found that the number of containers travelling through the Bab el-Mandeb strait into the Red Sea fell by 60% in December. Traffic continues to fall as the Houthis persist in attacking shipping that they claim is assisting Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza. On Tuesday a Greek-owned bulk carrier was damaged after being hit by a Houthi missile while travelling in the southern part of the Red Sea, the third incident in three days.