Red Sea on edge: Houthis threaten global trade, EU and UK cry foul

• EU and UK condemn Houthi attacks on Red Sea ships as “unacceptable.”
• Houthi threats jeopardize food security in Yemen.
• UK warns of imposter “Yemeni Navy” directing ships.

The latest strong response from the international community comes from the EU and the UK, who denounced the Houthis, who are backed by Iran, for targeting ships in the Red Sea and compromising security along the crucial traffic route.

The Houthis’ threats to international navigation in the Red Sea and their most recent missile attacks on the Norwegian tanker Strinda and other ships, according to EU spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy Peter Stano, are “unacceptable,” and he urged them to stop attacking and free the crew of the seized Galaxy Leader ship.

He also pleaded with all nations to refrain from endorsing the “illegal” actions of the Houthis.

“The EU reiterates its call on the Houthis to refrain from further threats and attacks to international shipping lanes and calls for the immediate release of the Galaxy Leader vessel and its 25-member crew, illegally seized on 19 November from international waters in the southern Red Sea,” Stano said in a statement.

The Houthi attacks, according to Abda Sharif, the UK ambassador to Yemen, would not only jeopardize international commercial shipping traffic in the Red Sea but also worsen the country’s already severe humanitarian crisis by threatening food supplies, since eighty percent of Yemen’s food imports pass through its ports on the Red Sea.

“Continued threats to international commercial shipping will ultimately restrict the availability of food as commercial shipping will not risk their vessels and their crew. Insurance costs of shipping have begun to increase and will drive up food prices and increase humanitarian need,” she said.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations issued a warning on Thursday afternoon regarding an organization posing as the Yemeni Navy directing a vessel to adjust its course to Yemen and advising vessels to remain careful, which sparked the international outcry over the Houthi attacks.

“UKMTO has received a report of an entity declaring itself to be the Yemeni Navy, ordering a vessel to alter course to Yemen. Vessels in the vicinity are advised to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO,” it said on X.

Mohammed Abdulsalam, the chief Houthi negotiator, declared that until Israel stops bombing Gaza and permits all food and water supplies to enter the strip, they will continue to shoot any ships heading toward Israel or those attempting to protect them, regardless of country.

The Houthis have attacked US and French warships in addition to foreign commercial ships using explosive-laden drones and cruise missiles.

The USS Mason, a guided-missile destroyer of the Arleigh-Burke class, stopped the Houthis from using small vessels to board and seize the motor vessel Ardmore Encounter on Wednesday morning when it was in the Red Sea, according to a statement released by US Central Command on Thursday.

The US destroyer shot down a drone that the Houthis released after they were unable to take control of the ship and fired two missiles toward it.

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