The Washington Institute has reported an escalating threat to commercial shipping in the Red Sea, particularly since the onset of the Gaza war and Operation Prosperity Guardian.
In early June, the Houthis arrested several United Nations and international NGO employees, accusing them of being part of an “American-Israeli spy cell.”
The ports of Algeciras in Spain and Tanger Med in Morocco, situated on opposite sides of the Gibraltar Strait, are experiencing significant strain due to recent disruptions in global shipping routes.
The resurgence of piracy in the western Indian Ocean, triggered by Houthi attacks on international shipping in late 2023, has created opportunities for Somali pirates, resulting in 18 hijackings..
The Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have significantly disrupted maritime trade, particularly affecting the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, a vital route for global oil and seaborne trade.