The Houthi attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea are U.S. and international problems. 

U.S. and British warships on Saturday shot down 15 suspected attack drones over the Red Seas launched by Houthi rebels in Yemen, fending off the latest onslaught by the Iranian-controlled group in one of the world’s busiest shipping routes as the Israel-Hamas war threatened to spread.

The USS Carney, an American destroyer, intercepted 14 drones launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. They “were shot down with no damage to ships in the area or reported injuries,” U.S. Central Command said.

That’s a lot of drones in just two days that the Houthi rebels launched at merchant ships. Merchant ships that carry goods and services around the world. One has to wonder where the Houthi’s got all the money to buy all those drones? If you guessed Iran, you win the prize. 

As Deanna wrote here, our Navy stopped a Houthi hijack attempt in November. Then, just two weeks ago, Lisa wrote about Houthis attack on three merchant ships in the Red Sea. As both noted, the Biden Administration in early 2021, to spite President Trump, decided that Houthis aren’t terrorists after all. 

Except they are and they are fully backed by Iran. Yet the Biden Administration has been incredibly wobbly about dealing with these ever bolder attacks. Gee, I wonder why?

The Biden administration has been reluctant to respond militarily against the Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in recent weeks for fear of provoking Iran, which backs Hamas and Hezbollah in Yemen as well as the Houthis. Previously, the Pentagon had recommended the administration not do so.

Oh yes, let’s not piss off Iran shall we? I mean, one of these days they’ll agree to the Iran Deal 2.0 and we just can’t have them mad at us for going after one of their favorite terrorist groups can we?

The Red Sea is a major and I mean MAJOR shipping conduit for the entire world. As Beege wrote at HotAir just two days ago, the attacks on merchant ships has escalated so much that Maersk (one of THE major shipping companies in the world) has completely halted all shipping through the area. Maersk isn’t the only one either. 

The world’s largest shipping group, the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), announced they were suspending operations in the Red Sea until further notice due to an increased risk of attacks.

The Danish shipping giant Maersk, German company Hapag-Lloyd, and French company CMA CGM have also suspended Red Sea transits.

Fears have mounted as Iran-backed Houthi rebels from Yemen have stepped up their assaults on ships, targeting foreign-owned vessels with drones and missiles.

While the Biden Administration frets over how to respond to these Iran-backed attacks, merchant and container ships now have to transit the long way around past The Cape of Good Hope. Which will add significant delays on the delivery of goods …such as cars, computers, toys, furniture, clothing, and more. 

The U.S. is asking and trying to plan for commercial ships to have military escorts as they traverse through the area. However, while the Biden Administration flails around, we are already seeing commercial shipping rates go up because of route changes. Not only is this issue impacting goods and services, it will impact the OIL market. 

The Gulf of Aden, at the southern end of the Red Sea, sees an estimated 21,000 ships passing through annually, either entering or exiting the Red Sea, making it one of the world’s busiest bodies of water. An estimated 11 percent, approximately 8.8 million barrels, of seaborne oil passes through the Gulf en route to the Mediterranean or the Arabian Seas, per Marine Insight.

If all shipping through the Red Sea and Suez Canal is halted due to the Houthi’s demands, Egypt will also suffer financially. Now why would the Houthi’s be attacking these ships?

After successfully banning Israeli ships from sailing in the Red Sea, the Yemeni Armed Forces declare that no ship of any nationality heading to the Zionist entity is not allowed to pass if humanitarian aid continue to be blocked entry into Gaza, these ships will become targets pic.twitter.com/ewouWKoPdB

— The Quantum Mechanic (@KentTahir65227) December 14, 2023

This is supposedly about Israel. Is it really? Not all the merchant ships traversing the Red Sea stop in Israel. Many pass right on by. 

One of the world’s largest shipping companies stops using the Red Sea after another ship attacked by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists yesterday. Let’s pretend it’s raining and that this is about Israel. https://t.co/d3DzTI6l8C

— Jonathan Conricus (@jconricus) December 15, 2023

True, yet we also know that Iran has a long-standing visceral hatred of Israel. And, if their little terrorist stooges cause a disruption in the global supply chain, so much the better. 

This is a major power play by Iran. As evidenced by their statement in response to the U.S. finger-wagging and deciding to create a maritime task force. 

The U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen, Tim Lenderking, said on Thursday that Washington wanted the “broadest possible” maritime coalition to protect ships and signal to the Houthis that attacks would not be tolerated.

Iran warned that the proposed multinational naval force would face “extraordinary problems” and nobody “can make a move in a region where we have predominance”.

While the U.S. dithers and wobbles on this issue, maritime shipping is being disrupted by these attacks. We will all be seeing the ripple effects of this soon if the Houthi’s aren’t shut down ASAP. 

Feature Photo Credit: Maersk container ship at north end of Red Sea, via Flicker, cropped and modified