Houthi Maritime Threat

The Houthi maritime threat refers to attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Bab-el-Mandeb by Yemen’s Houthi movement, escalating from November 2023 with anti-ship ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, drones, and small-boat raids. Strikes including the loss of the Rubymar and the Galaxy Leader hijacking pushed many operators onto the longer Cape route and triggered sharp war-risk premium increases. The attacks prompted the US-led Prosperity Guardian and EU Aspides defensive missions.