𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐚 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬

𝘿𝙧. 𝙉𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡 𝘼𝙡𝙞 𝘼𝙡-𝘼𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙢…𝙄𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙎𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙐𝙣𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝘾𝙡𝙪𝙗

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐚 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬

𝘼𝙗𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩 :

The Houthi group in Yemen has escalated violence, targeting American, British, and Israeli ships, including the British ship “Rubimar” in the Gulf of Aden. The Houthis, part of the Middle East’s “resistance axis,” is in control of Yemen’s commercial port, which facilitates the daily ingress of oil into Europe. The attacks have caused significant disruptions in global trade, increased tensions, and raised concerns about international trade. The Chinese government has refused to stop the Houthi attacks, citing the Gaza Strip war as the primary reason. The Houthi threat to navigation in the Red Sea is a concern due to the complexity of maritime transport, Iran’s weapons, missiles, and drones, and the group’s expertise in targeting Saudi and Emirati ships and disrupting oil supply lines. The Houthi escalation is closely linked to Iran, which aims to increase security costs, lift sanctions on Tehran, and negotiate on nuclear and missile programs. The escalating tensions may lead to an all-out regional conflict, with Russia and China adopting a “solidarity with Iran” strategy.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐚 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬

The January 28, 2024, slaughter of three American soldiers at the military outpost “Burj 22” in proximity to the Al-Tanf base in Syria sparked a series of intense American assaults against militia locations in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen that were affiliated with Iran. The aforementioned attacks largely contributed to a reduction in the intensity of the conflict between the American military forces and the so-called axis of resistance. However, this trend of decreased tension did not extend to the Houthis in Yemen; the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait, and Gulf of Aden continue to be flashpoints of an increasingly violent conflict.

In the past few weeks, the Houthi group made quite the announcement, targeting a handful of American, British, and Israeli ships. One of their notable targets was the British ship “Rubimar” in the Gulf of Aden, along with an American oil ship and a few others. It seems that these attacks were executed with precision and had a significant impact on the target. In a surprising turn of events, it was revealed that… A daring act of intercepting and shooting down an American MQ9 drone took place over the skies of Hodeidah Governorate. This incident has led to a significant escalation in the attacks by Britain and America on Houthi sites across various regions within Yemen, with no signs of slowing down.

𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬?

Early in the 1990s, the Houthi organization in Saada, Yemen, came into being as a political, military, and religious movement, using the city as its major hub. The Houthis consider themselves representatives of the Zaidi Shiites in Yemen, an armed movement allied with Iran, whose founder is a man by the name of Badr al-Din al-Houthi. Although this group was active in Yemeni society prior to the 1990s, it was primarily focused on the religious and ideological sphere. The Houthis also refer to themselves as “Ansar Allah.”

Through its demonstrations and media, the Houthi group spreads regional political and theological concerns, such as the comprehensive American-Israeli conspiracy theory and Arab collaboration with the West, which draws in Zaidi Shiite supporters in Yemen. The Houthi slogan, which was influenced by Iranian chants, changed to “God is Great, Death to America, Death to Israel” in 2003. This slogan serves as the group’s distinguishing emblem and reads, “Curse the Jews, victory for Islam.”

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐚?

The Houthis identify as part of the Middle East’s “resistance axis,” which is headed by Iran. While Tehran does not refute its backing , it explicitly denies that it is in charge of it when conflict arises, asserting that these militias are autonomous and make their own decisions.

situated on the Red Sea, the Houthi’s hold  a strategical waterway of significant global importance. Due to the low cost of transportation along this corridor, and statistics indicate, approximately 9 million barrels of oil entered Europe daily via the Red Sea in the first half of 2023. This waterway connects Europe, Asia, and Africa, and loaded ships enter from the Indian Ocean. By way of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, it can be reached by traversing the Mediterranean Sea and Europe, followed by the Suez Canal to reach the Red Sea. Based on statistical data, the Red Sea facilitated the daily ingress of around 9 million barrels of oil into Europe during the initial six months of 2023.

The Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait maritime routes may  continue to  be disrupt by the Houthis for long time to come  especially they are  in  full charge of Yemen’s Hodeidah commercial port. Numerous significant maritime companies shifted their routes from the Red Sea to the Horn of Africa once the Houthi attacks started. a route where service at its ports is extremely poor and the cost and time of travel nearly tripled .

From this vantage point, protecting the Red Sea waterway is crucial for the entire world, but especially for the big nations.

Had this not been the case, Britain, which has long since disassociated itself from the Middle East crisis, would never have returned to the scene.

In a Sunday Telegraph story, for instance, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron stated that Britain “had no choice but to attack the Houthis, because if they closed the Red Sea prices would rise.”

The crucial point is that the Houthis are unable to block the Red Sea canal and are simply conducting activities that would jeopardize the shipping channel transport  in an effort to raise the cost  of  shipping to the United States abd Europe which is Iran’s main objective.

Since 15% of all global traffic passes through the waterways in the Red Sea, the Houthi escalation has increased tensions and sparked worries about international trade. The Houthi attacks had a severe regional impact on a number of nations, including Jordan, the Gulf states, and Egypt. These nations chose other routes, which reduced their reliance on the Suez Canal and resulted in a sharp decline in commercial transport traffic. Estimates suggest that Egypt lost more than half a billion dollars as a result of these attacks. As long as the Houthi attacks persist, this figures  are anticipated to increase due to the reduction in traffic from the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Attacks have also made shipping companies select lengthier alternate routes, which adds time and expense and has a detrimental effect on supply chains and businesses. In addition, the attacks have increased expenses for relief and human rights organizations and stopped providing humanitarian help to  the looming famine in Sudan.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

In a rather amusing turn of events, it seems that the Chinese government has not only turned down an American request for mediation to stop the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, but they have also declined a similar request from London, as reported by Iranian media. China has confirmed that the Gaza Strip war is the primary reason for the refusal of cooperation, and Britain has also reiterated this claim in recent days. In an effort to put a stop to the Houthi operations, China was asked to step in and mediate after America’s unsuccessful attempt. However, China faced a similar response as America did.

It’s worth noting that China’s commerce has taken a hit and some of its regional allies are not too thrilled about the Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. It seems that Beijing is either lacking the knack or the desire to use diplomatic tactics to put pressure on the Houthis and find a solution to this crisis.

China’s recent actions, or lack thereof, over the past four months demonstrate a clear trend: despite years of investment in the Middle East, China’s main regional priority remains undermining the United States, even at the expense of its own commercial interests. China’s presence in the Middle East has undeniably grown in recent years, but it’s evident that their actions are driven by self-interest.

Meanwhile, the Houthis’ bold move of targeting Israel has played a significant role in establishing and strengthening their ties with China over the last twenty years. According to statistics from the American Enterprise Institute, China has invested approximately $9 billion in Israel over the past decade, while implementing projects worth $3 billion.

While it’s not surprising that China isn’t expected to take control of the situation, it’s rather amusing that they haven’t made any effort in this area.

However, China has cleverly identified opportunities within this crisis and has implemented two strategic measures to capitalize on them: One of the initial moves involved voicing concerns about America’s involvement in the Middle East, aligning itself with other nations critical of this role. Following that, China swiftly moved to safeguard its own economic interests by meeting the rising demand for chartering Chinese ships, which are widely regarded as a reliable and secure option by shipping companies. Due to its alliance with the Houthi, certain ships navigating the Red Sea have cleverly resorted to broadcasting a message that their entire crew is Chinese in order to steer clear of any Houthi attacks. China is making an effort to demonstrate that its diplomacy is evolving to keep up with the ever-changing circumstances in the region. Additionally, it aims to showcase its commitment to undertaking challenging endeavors that benefit all countries involved.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐢 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬

There are four key aspects that make the Houthi threat to navigation in the Red Sea a matter of concern:

The topic of maritime transport is a fascinating and crucial one, especially when it comes to regional and global commercial trade. The management of ships by Iran and the Houthis has the potential to impact the number of targeted vessels, adding another layer of complexity to the situation.

Furthermore, it seems that Iran has been quite generous in providing the Houthis with an ever-growing arsenal of weapons, missiles, and drones. It’s quite remarkable how the international community has struggled to put a stop to these supply routes.

Furthermore, the Houthis possess a wealth of knowledge and expertise when it comes to targeting Saudi and Emirati ships and disrupting oil supply lines. Their repertoire includes employing tactics such as suicide speedboats, marches, and anti-ship missiles. Clearly, the Houthi group is well-versed in the art of this particular form of warfare.

In a rather amusing turn of events, the Houthi group has decided to issue a threat to cut off internet lines. Their demand? Well, they insist that the United States and the United Kingdom put an end to the air strikes on Yemen, or else they will start targeting those precious internet cables in the Red Sea. Quite the unconventional approach, wouldn’t you say?

These cables are the ultimate connectors, bridging the continents of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. According to Ateo Breaking, this threat is no laughing matter. Cutting these cables would have far-reaching consequences, impacting geopolitical stability, global financial markets, and information security. It’s worth noting that over 99% of the world’s Internet traffic and more than 80% of international telephone lines rely on these cables for transmission. Through these cleverly hidden submarine cables.

Voila, here’s the outcome:

The Houthi escalation in the Red Sea seems to be closely tied to Iran. Prior to this escalation, Iranian Guide Ali Khamenei had emphasized the importance of cutting off vital supplies to Israel due to its conflict with Gaza. However, it appears that Tehran saw an opportunity during the war on Gaza to use it as a pretext to encourage the Houthi group to further escalate tensions. In the sea lanes, there are certain goals that Iran aims to achieve. One of the most significant goals is to put pressure on America and Western powers by increasing their security costs in the region. This is done in order to lift sanctions on Tehran and allow it to export its oil. Additionally, Iran seeks to negotiate on other matters such as the nuclear and missile program, as well as its expansionist activities in the region. The ultimate aim is to obtain greater concessions in return.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐢‘𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐚, 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐡𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐧𝐮𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫.

Iran’s clever strategy to free its agents from posing a threat to the region’s security and stability, including sea and commercial lanes, has gained the support of Russia and China. This plan has the audacious goal of boosting competitiveness in Ukraine and Taiwan, even if it means putting China and Russia’s benefits and commercial interests on the line. Iran seems to think that escalating tension will have a delightful effect on global trade, causing costs and pressure to skyrocket for the US, Europe, and other countries in the region, especially those they don’t particularly get along with.

Despite the widespread belief that a direct confrontation between Iran and America is unlikely, Iran recently unveiled two air defense systems in response to the growing tensions and to demonstrate its defensive capabilities.

At the same time, escalating tensions in the Middle East, stemming from the Gaza war, may cause a knee-jerk move by Iran, which could lead to an all-out regional conflict.

Also, instability in the Middle East may call for bringing in actors from outside the region, which could increase Iran’s capabilities over time. One of these foreign players is Russia, which has increased its diplomatic support for Hamas and the Houthis and increased its relations with Iran since the beginning of the Ukrainian war.

Furthermore, the American strikes on Yemen have been met with criticism from Russia and China, which have adopted a “solidarity with Iran” strategy. This can potentially grant Iran an unparalleled leverage to covertly advance its nuclear program.

At the World Conference of Governments in the United Arab Emirates, Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, asserted that Iran’s nuclear program lacks complete transparency.

Shortly after Grossi made his claim, a troubling interview with Iran’s former chief nuclear negotiator Ali Akbar Salehi surfaced, in which Salehi said that Iran possessed all the components needed to build nuclear bombs.

A robust international military response is necessary in light of the Houthi danger in Yemen; the present US operation in the Red Sea exemplifies this.

However, Arab nations in the area must work together to counter the growing dangers posed by Iranian proxy groups; these groups are steadily driving the region closer to a full-blown war.