The Red Sea area, which is located in the Middle East, has been designated as a dangerous zone due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The Red Sea is an important commercial sea transport route that connects the Middle East with Europe through the Suez Canal. The region is crucial for global trade, as it serves as a gateway for shipping routes between Asia, Europe, and Africa.
However, the area has become more hazardous due to the activities of the Houthi rebels. The Houthi rebels are a group of militants fighting against Israel’s occupation of the Gaza Strip. Their activities have increased tension in the region, making it unsafe for commercial and civilian ships to navigate through the area.
As a result, many countries have issued travel warnings to their citizens, advising them to avoid the Red Sea area until the situation stabilises. The ongoing conflict has also led to an increase in military presence in the region, with many countries deploying naval forces to ensure the safety of their vessels.
Navigation is slow
The Red Sea is a narrow body of water located between Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, and Djibouti. Unfortunately, the activity of the Houthi rebels has made it unsafe for commercial vessels to use this shipping route. As a result, some countries and companies have decided to change their transportation plans and think twice about using this route after November 20. This is because there is a serious problem with providing security for the ships that use this route. If a ship is attacked, it could result in an unsustainable loss. Therefore, many companies have already decided to observe these conditions closely before making any decisions about using this route in the future.
A Japanese ship is hijacked – and responsibility is taken
On November 20th, the Houthi rebels launched their first attack on cargo vessels. A Japanese-owned cargo ship was hit and hijacked by the rebels, who entered the ship using helicopters. They claimed that the ship was Israeli-owned and took the ship’s employees hostage. The rebels edited and publicised the incident in a movie-like style, which drew the attention of the world.
The Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the attack and warned that the Red Sea could become dangerous. In the past month, the rebels have threatened many ships sailing in the Red Sea, and two commercial ships were attacked by drones on the 18th, making passage through the Red Sea even more terrifying.
Risk of rising commodity prices
The current situation has had a significant impact on cargo transportation activities, which have been severely disrupted. The trade relations with Europe have been adversely affected, and it is predicted that shipping companies and diplomatic cargo will face serious problems in the future. To mitigate the impact of this disruption, Maersk and MSC companies have decided to temporarily stop sailing through the Red Sea and instead take the route around the African continent to enter the Atlantic Ocean. This decision has been made to ensure the safety of their cargo and crew, as the Red Sea has become a high-risk zone due to the ongoing conflict and political instability in the region.
However, using alternative routes has become costly and has increased the time taken to reach destinations. This has resulted in a significant increase in transportation costs and delays in delivery times. It has already been predicted that the overspending and delay could also lead to a sharp rise in global commodity prices, as the cost of transportation will eventually be passed on to the end consumer.
The situation has also caused a ripple effect on the global economy, with the disruption in trade relations and cargo transportation activities affecting various industries and businesses. In addition, the conflict in the Red Sea region has created uncertainty and instability in the area, which could have broader implications for the global political landscape.
World-level talks to fight Houthi rebels
The situation in Yemen is currently being discussed by many countries, including the United States. In an effort to suppress the activities of the Houthi rebels, the US has suggested that all countries work together as an alliance and formulate necessary methods. As part of this, the US has proposed a comprehensive program to respond to the attacks of the rebels and plans to discuss this with the defence ministers of regional countries in the next few days.
To combat the Houthi rebels, several countries have agreed to operate joint naval patrols in the southern Red Sea and near the Gulf of Aden. Bahrain, Britain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain are preparing for a comprehensive operation. This includes both maritime and air operations, as well as intelligence sharing and surveillance.
The Houthi rebels control a majority of Yemen and are recognised as a terrorist organisation supported by Iran. Despite efforts to suppress their activities, the organisation has grown strong to the point where it poses a significant threat to the region. The situation is complex and there are no easy solutions, but countries are working together to address the issue and ensure stability in the region.
Israeli ships are particularly at risk
Houthi rebels have threatened to attack all vessels travelling to Israel. They emphasise that Israeli ships are attacked regardless of the nationality of the personnel on board. The insurgents have warned all ships dealing with Israeli ports to be very careful. A background has now been created in which the organisation has warned that no matter what actions America takes, it will come closer to its goals by suppressing all of them.
