Red Sea Crisis

The Red Sea crisis began in late 2023, when Yemen's Houthi movement began launching missiles, drones and armed-boat attacks against commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The Houthis said the attacks were intended to pressure Israel over the Gaza war and that they targeted vessels connected to Israel. In practice, ships with varied ownership, routes and crew nationalities were attacked or threatened, and the movement's targeting claims were often disputed.

The attacks disrupted one of the world's most important maritime corridors, linking the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean through the Suez Canal and Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Many shipping companies diverted vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, lengthening voyages and raising costs. The United States and Britain launched strikes against Houthi military sites in Yemen, while multinational naval forces intercepted projectiles and escorted vessels.

The crisis connected Yemen's civil war to wider regional tensions involving Iran, Israel and the United States. Houthi forces continued attacks despite air strikes and diplomatic warnings. The campaign raised questions about freedom of navigation, the effectiveness of deterrence and the risk that a regional conflict could threaten global trade and energy supplies.

Background

The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, control Yemen's capital Sana'a and large areas of the north. The movement fought Yemen's government for years and expanded its power during the civil war that began in 2014. A Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015, and the conflict later became intertwined with regional rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran. A United Nations truce in 2022 reduced fighting but did not settle Yemen's political division.

The Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait connect the Suez Canal and Mediterranean Sea to the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. The narrow strait carries a significant share of global container traffic and energy shipments. Disruption can force vessels to take a much longer route around southern Africa. The waterway is bordered by Yemen, Djibouti and Eritrea, and sits near Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

After the October 7 attacks on Israel and the start of the Gaza war, Houthi leaders announced support for Hamas and threatened maritime action. They portrayed attacks on shipping as a means of forcing Israel to end its campaign and allow more aid into Gaza. The Houthis had previously attacked Saudi targets and threatened international shipping during the Yemen conflict.

Iran supported the Houthi movement and provided technology and assistance that helped develop its missile and drone capabilities, according to United Nations experts and Western governments. Tehran denied directing specific attacks. The Houthis retained independent leadership and domestic aims, but their weapons and regional alignment placed the maritime campaign within a broader Iranian network of armed groups.

Timeline of events

Initial attacks

In November 2023, Houthi forces seized the Galaxy Leader, a vehicle carrier sailing through the Red Sea, and took its crew hostage. The ship was associated with an Israeli businessman through its ownership structure, but its crew included citizens of several countries. The seizure demonstrated that the Houthis could target commercial vessels far from Yemen's coast.

Houthi forces subsequently launched missiles and drones toward ships and toward Israel. U.S. naval vessels intercepted projectiles and drones. The Houthis claimed to target vessels linked to Israel, but ships with no clear connection to Israel were also attacked or threatened. Many operators suspended Red Sea routes or changed their schedules.

In December, the United States announced Operation Prosperity Guardian, a multinational maritime security initiative to protect commercial traffic. Participating states contributed naval vessels or support. Some governments joined the operation, while others preferred to avoid direct involvement. The coalition's formation did not stop Houthi attacks.

U.S. and British strikes

On 12 January 2024, the United States and Britain launched strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. The attacks hit radar systems, missile and drone facilities and storage sites. The two governments said the strikes were a response to repeated attacks on commercial shipping and were intended to reduce the Houthis' ability to threaten navigation.

Further strikes followed, including operations by U.S. forces and, at times, partner states. Houthi authorities reported deaths and damage. The strikes did not eliminate the group's capacity to launch missiles and drones. The Houthis continued attacks, and the United States designated the movement as a specially designated global terrorist organization in January 2024; the U.S. later changed and reinstated its designation amid policy shifts.

U.S. naval forces intercepted incoming weapons and attacked launch sites. The Houthis adapted by using mobile launchers, low-cost drones and dispersed facilities. The exchange became a sustained campaign rather than a single retaliatory action. Military planners faced difficulties identifying and destroying weapons before launch.

Attacks continue and spread

Houthi attacks continued through 2024 and into 2025. The group struck or attempted to strike vessels, attacked naval ships and launched missiles toward Israel. Some attacks hit ships, causing fires, casualties and sinkings. Crews abandoned vessels in dangerous conditions, and search-and-rescue operations followed.

In March 2024, the bulk carrier True Confidence was struck by a missile, killing three crew members and injuring others. In June, the Greek-owned Tutor was attacked by an explosive-laden unmanned surface vessel and later sank. In July, the tanker Chios Lion was damaged by another sea drone. These incidents showed that Houthi tactics could cause deaths and severe environmental risks even when vessels were not connected to Israel.

The United States and Britain conducted additional strikes on Houthi sites, and U.S. forces intercepted missiles and drones. Israel also carried out strikes on Houthi-controlled ports and infrastructure after missile attacks reached Israeli territory. The Houthi campaign thus expanded beyond maritime security into direct exchanges with Israel and Western forces.

In 2025, Houthi attacks and U.S. air operations intensified during a period of renewed regional pressure. The United States launched a sustained campaign against Houthi military infrastructure. A ceasefire arrangement later halted U.S. strikes in exchange for a Houthi commitment to stop attacks on U.S. vessels, though attacks connected to Israel continued. Shipping risks remained elevated.

Houthi attacks on commercial vessels

The Houthis used ballistic and cruise missiles, explosive drones and unmanned surface vessels. Some attacks involved boarding parties or attempts to seize ships. The movement broadcast videos of operations and presented them as acts of solidarity. The use of weapons near commercial traffic placed crews and vessels at risk regardless of nationality or ownership.

Target identification was often uncertain. The Houthis published lists and statements alleging that particular ships were associated with Israel, the United States or Britain. Shipping companies disputed some claims, and vessel ownership structures were complex. Ships could change flag, charterer or operator, making a stated connection difficult to establish. Attacks sometimes struck vessels with no publicly known Israeli connection.

International law protects freedom of navigation and prohibits attacks on civilian vessels except under narrow circumstances. Seizing merchant crews and attacking ships without a lawful military basis violates maritime norms. The Houthis' campaign threatened neutral commerce and placed civilian seafarers in danger.

Issues

Governments debated whether air strikes could restore navigation without widening the war. Supporters argued that attacks on launchers and depots were necessary to protect shipping and deter further strikes. Critics questioned the legal basis, proportionality and effectiveness of bombing Yemen, noting that previous military campaigns had not stopped the Houthis from launching weapons.

The campaign highlighted the cost asymmetry between inexpensive drones and missiles and advanced interceptors. Naval forces used costly defensive weapons to destroy relatively cheap incoming systems. The repeated need to intercept projectiles strained resources and raised concerns about ammunition stocks and readiness for other theaters.

Some governments feared that direct strikes would undermine Yemen peace negotiations or strengthen the Houthis domestically. Others argued that tolerating attacks on shipping would reward coercion and threaten global commerce. The policy debate involved maritime law, self-defense, deterrence and humanitarian consequences.

Impact

Rerouting vessels around the Cape of Good Hope added thousands of nautical miles to some journeys and extended delivery times. Shipping companies incurred higher fuel, insurance and crew costs. The disruption affected container traffic, energy shipments and supply chains. The scale varied over time as companies assessed the threat and naval operations.

Egypt faced losses in Suez Canal revenue when vessels diverted away from the canal. The canal is a major source of foreign currency and a strategic asset. Reduced transit also affected port activity and service industries. Global supply chains experienced delays and increased costs, though firms adapted by changing routes and schedules.

Yemen's civilians faced additional risks from air strikes and economic disruption. Ports and infrastructure are vital to a country reliant on imported food and fuel. Humanitarian organizations warned that escalation could worsen shortages and damage already fragile services. The Houthis' military operations and foreign strikes both affected the security environment.

Seafarers endured prolonged voyages, missile alerts and uncertainty about crew safety. Some companies suspended Red Sea transits; others continued with naval escorts or risk assessments. Attacks that killed crew members underscored that the crisis was not an abstract trade dispute but a direct danger to civilian workers.

Reactions

The United States, Britain and several partner governments condemned Houthi attacks and called for them to stop. They organized naval patrols and conducted strikes, describing the measures as defensive and necessary to protect shipping. The United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution demanding an immediate end to attacks on commercial vessels.

Iran denied directing the attacks and condemned Western strikes on Yemen. The Houthis described their campaign as support for Gaza and said it would end when Israeli operations stopped. Saudi Arabia and Oman prioritized de-escalation and negotiations, concerned that renewed regional fighting could undermine the truce in Yemen.

Shipping companies, insurers and trade associations called for safe passage and clearer risk information. Many governments urged protection of civilian crews and humanitarian access. The crisis also revived discussion of how regional conflicts can affect chokepoints used by global commerce.

Analysis

The Red Sea campaign demonstrated how a non-state actor with limited conventional forces could influence international trade through persistent missile and drone attacks. The geography of the strait and the cost of rerouting gave the Houthis leverage beyond their territory. Their operations also gained visibility and political prominence.

Military responses faced a difficult balance. Interceptions protected ships but consumed expensive munitions; strikes could destroy launch systems but risked escalation and civilian harm. Deterrence depended on convincing the Houthis that attacks carried costs without triggering a broader regional war. The outcome remained uncertain as weapons and tactics adapted.

The crisis linked local conflict in Yemen to global maritime security and the Iran-Israel rivalry. A lasting reduction in attacks required both security measures and political diplomacy. The Houthi movement's domestic control, Iran's regional role and the Gaza conflict all influenced its calculations.