On February 23, United States military forces destroyed seven Houthi anti-ship missiles. This information was reported by US Central Command on its social network X, indicating the missiles had been prepped to strike targets in the Red Sea. CENTCOM’s update underscores the ongoing vulnerabilities in international shipping lanes through the region.
Earlier reporting noted that the Houthi movement had restricted passage for British and American vessels through the Red Sea, heightening tensions in the area.
Amid the broader conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Houthi rebels in Yemen began targeting commercial and military ships in the Red Sea as of early October 2023. Unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles were employed in these operations, signaling a shift toward cargo and defense corridors as they expanded their reach across maritime routes.
The Houthis have claimed that their strikes were directed at ships calling at Israeli ports or those linked to Israel, yet the disruptions have spilled into international shipping lanes, affecting global trade patterns and insurance considerations.
Several shipping companies announced that they would reroute or suspend passage through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the vital chokepoint linking the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea, a corridor essential to global commerce.
On the night of January 12, 2024, with support from the United States and a coalition that included the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, and Bahrain, major attacks were launched against Houthi targets in Yemen. President Biden framed this as a direct response to Houthi assaults on foreign shipping, illustrating the alignment of U.S. and allied policy with maritime security imperatives.
In parallel, Iran rejected accusations that it was supplying weapons to the Yemeni Houthis, a denial that continues to shape regional narratives and the international response to the crisis.