Houthi Attacks Disrupt Global Shipping in Yemen
- Maersk reported a 66% decrease in Suez Canal transits due to Houthi attacks, leading to rerouting of vessels around Africa.
- The EU naval force abandoned a salvage operation for the MV Sounion, citing safety concerns from Houthi attacks, raising fears of an environmental disaster.
- The ongoing disruptions and the administration's ineffective response have led to increased shipping costs and skepticism about future safety in the region.
Ongoing attacks from the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen have severely disrupted global shipping, particularly affecting the Red Sea shipping lane. Shipping giant Maersk reported a staggering 66 percent decrease in transits through the Suez Canal since the onset of these attacks, forcing many shipping companies to reroute their vessels around Africa. This has resulted in significant port congestion, delays, and shortages in capacity and equipment, leading to increased shipping costs. The Biden-Harris administration's response to the crisis has been criticized, especially after the European Union naval force had to abandon a salvage operation for the burning oil tanker MV Sounion due to safety concerns regarding Houthi attacks. The inability to protect salvage teams has raised alarms about a potential environmental disaster, which could be four times the size of the Exxon Valdez incident. Despite promises of a multi-national military operation to safeguard shipping lanes, skepticism among shipping companies regarding the effectiveness of President Biden's “Operation Prosperity Guardian” has been validated. The U.S. Department of Defense has not taken an active role in the cleanup or towing of the Sounion, leaving the situation precarious. The Houthi attacks have not only disrupted shipping but have also served as a recruitment tool for the group, as they circulate videos of their successes. Analysts suggest that the Houthis have gained confidence in targeting shipping, which may lead to further attacks in the future, complicating the already tense geopolitical landscape in the region.