Ten days after the Hamas attack on Israel, which opened a new chapter in the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict, Yemen's Houthis announced that they would attack any merchant ship suspected of having ties of any kind to Israel transiting off their coasts. A decision that has opened a new crisis in the Red Sea, with important consequences. Since then, maritime security in that sea, as well as in its approaches from the Indian Ocean, has deteriorated considerably, with a decrease in maritime traffic. close to 90%. Some of the largest commercial shipping companies in the world, such as the Mollers-Maersk group or Hapag-Lloyd, have decided to temporarily suspend the transit of their ships through the region, a decision that has resulted in delays and increased prices (including of insurers).
- Hamas's war against Israel (I): the Hamas raid
- Hamas's war against Israel (II): drones and lessons for Spain
- Hamas's war against Israel (III): the naval war
- Hamas's war against Israel (IV): paradigm rupture and intelligence failure
- Hamas's war against Israel (V): operation "Iron Swords"
- Hamas's war against Israel (VI): the cyber derivatives of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict
- Hamas' war against Israel (VII): the Red Sea crisis
- Hamas's war against Israel (VIII): Hamas's urban guerrilla war in the Gaza Strip
To confront this threat and the more than 30 attacks that have taken place since then, and with the aim of minimizing the resulting damage to the global economy, several countries have deployed warships to protect merchant ships. Furthermore, following the sudden increase in attacks in late November and early December, the United States decided to launch Operation Prosperity Guardian to address the threats. This has been operating for several weeks now under the command of the already existing Combined Task Force 153 (CTF 153), based in Bahrain. Its establishment, however, has not served to deter the Houthis, who have been progressively increasing the intensity of their attacks in recent weeks.
This article reviews the numerous incidents that have led to the current crisis in the Red Sea and its surroundings as a result of the conflict in Gaza. First of all, the strategic importance of the Red Sea region and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait for global maritime trade is briefly highlighted. Below are detailed, in chronological order, the different attacks that have taken place from October 17, 2023 to January 12, 2024 with their most relevant aspects. Along with them, the evolution of Operation Prosperity Guardian and the first allied attack on ground targets that took place on January 12 are also described.
The Red Sea and the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb
Without attempting to address in depth the commercial implications of the crisis, which are being more than significant, the strategic importance of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea (along with the Suez Canal) must be underlined. It is the only way to adequately understand the incidents that we have been witnessing since the end of October 2023.
The importance of the Red Sea lies in its strategic position, as a link between the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean with its accesses in the Suez Canal and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait (two of the seven bottlenecks, or chokepoints, Most important in the world). Crossing its waters are some of the most important trade routes between Europe and Asia today. Routes that also reduce transit time (and, therefore, the costs associated with transportation) compared to those that border the African continent through the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa). The majority of consumer goods, oil, and liquefied natural gas transit through them, assuming in total about 12% of world trade in terms of volume, and about 30% of world container traffic. As already The Ever Given incident showed us in 2021, any obstacle to maritime trade in the region can have very serious consequences for the economy of Europe and many other countries.
Its importance, however, contrasts with the fragility that characterizes it in terms of maritime security. This fragility has its origin mainly in two sources of instability close to the Bab el Mandeb region and its outlet to the Indian Ocean: Yemen y Somalia.
Both are failed states, in which corruption and the presence of non-state actors that threaten regional security have proliferated. including piracy in Somalia, or the presence of Iranian proxies such as the Houthis. In this way, one of the critical points for global trade and economy has been exposed for years to a constant risk of disruption and attacks by these groups, as has been the case since October.
The evolution of the Red Sea crisis
Since Hamas launched its attack against Israel, there have been more than thirty attacks by Yemen's Houthis (as of January 12). These have once again displayed a very important arsenal of weapons, including ballistic and cruise anti-ship missiles, UAVs and USVs. He Asef ballistic missile, of Iranian origin, with an explosive warhead of 500 kg, and a range of around 400 kilometers, it is the most sophisticated weapon they have. In addition, they also have cruise missiles such as the Al-Mandeb, based on the C-802 that China sold to Iran back in the 90s, or the Samad-2 and Samad-3 UAV drones capable of carrying explosive charges of up to 18 kg.
Como noted Sidarth Khausal and Sam Cranny-Evans In an article for RUSI, “the fact that a non-state actor is in possession of weapons of such caliber, and is using them with relative impunity, is worrying.” However, as they also indicate, despite the operational experience they have after years of conflict in Yemen with Saudi Arabia, their main weakness is the absence of adequate detection capabilities to locate their targets, which is why it is estimated that part of their intelligence obtained from the Iranian ship MV Behshad (a converted civilian freighter).
In the following lines, the different incidents that have occurred over time are detailed, arranged chronologically until January 12. Pending a continuation of this article, it also includes the attack that took place that same day against ground targets in Yemen and which marked, in a way, the beginning of the Western response to the Red Sea crisis.
October
A few days after the start of the conflict, the United States mobilized the aircraft carrier battle group USS "Gerald R. Ford", which arrived in the eastern Mediterranean region on the 12th of that month. The group, composed of CVN78 "Gerald R. Ford" with its embarked wing, a Ticonderoga-class cruiser (USS "Normandy"), and four Arleigh Burke-class destroyers (USS "Thomas Hudner", USS "Ramage", USS "Carney" and USS "Roosevelt"), had the mission, beyond protecting merchant traffic, of deterring Iran from any type of escalation.
Furthermore, almost at the same time deployed a second battle group, that of the USS «DwightD. Eisenhower" (CVN 69), which arrived in the region at the end of October. A few days later, the command and control ship and flagship of the US Navy's Sixth Fleet, the USS Mount Whitney, also departed. from Italy to the eastern Mediterranean to join the rest of the Ford group units and contribute to stabilizing the Red Sea crisis.
On October 14, the leader of the Houthis in Yemen, Abdulmalik Al-Houthi, warned that they would get involved in the fight through missile attacks, drones and other military options against ships linked to Israel, at least in case the United States intervene in the conflict.
On October 19, the destroyer USS "Carney" intercepted four anti-ship missiles and 15 UAV drones coming from Yemeni territory, using its SM-2 anti-aircraft missiles. Although the exact direction of the attacks was not completely clear, The most accepted hypothesis suggests that they were heading towards Israel. This was the first attack launched from Yemen, following what was announced by the leader of the Houthis a few days before.
A week later, on October 27, two UAVs from the southern Red Sea were launched towards Israeli targets in the north. Both fell in the Egyptian cities of Taba and Nuweiba, the first causing damage near a hospital and leaving several injured. Two days later, Israel announced that its Arrow air defense system had intercepted a surface-to-surface missile coming from the south of the Red Sea.
On October 31, the Houthis They officially announced their entry into the conflict to support the Palestinians in Gaza, launching several drones and ballistic and cruise missiles towards Eliat and Shaharut in Israel. All were intercepted by the Arrow air defense system and several Israeli Air Force units.
November
The two North American combat groups deployed in the Mediterranean they carried out a joint exercise On November 3. Maneuvers in which two Italian frigates also participated, the ITS “Virginio Fasan” and the ITS “Carlo Margottini”. During these exercises, defense practices for high-value units (High-Value Units), defense against ballistic missiles, combat resupply and other maritime security operations were included. The total duration of these exercises was three days, involving the participation of around 11.000 troops.
On November 8, the Houthis announced that they had shot down an American MQ-9 Reaper drone while flying over the territorial waters of Yemen, accusing it of carrying out “hostile” surveillance maneuvers.
A week later, on the 15th, the USS "Thomas Hudner" shot down a UAV from Yemen while it was transiting the Red Sea as part of the Eisenhower combat group. The Hudner became the second American ship to intercept a Houthi attack, after the USS “Carney” did so in mid-October. Following this incident, the frequency of attacks began to gradually increase.
On November 16, the United States increased its naval presence in the region, seeking to tackle the crisis in the Red Sea or, if it escalated, to be able to respond with guarantees. To this end, it mobilized an amphibious group composed of the LHD USS "Bataan", the LSD USS "Carter Hall" and the LPD USS "Mesa Verde", together with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The group had been in the 5th Fleet area of operations since August, when they were deployed in response to the tensions caused by Iran.
Three days later, on November 19, the ferry "Galaxy Leader" was boarded while transiting the Red Sea bound for India. A group of Houthi raiders landed on the deck of the ship with a helicopter, taking control of the ship a few minutes later. The incident was recorded by the assailants and distributed by the Al Masirah television channel, showing the landing and subsequent hijacking of the ship. Moments after they took control, all communications with the civilian vessel were lost.
Once kidnapped, the assailants took the "Galaxy Leader" to the port of Hodeidah, in Yemen, where the crew was allowed to maintain "moderate contact" with their families. In accordance with company statements, made shortly after the event, “the 25 kidnapped crew members have no connection with the situation in the region. They [the Houthis] cannot get anything else from them.” The crew They come from five different countries: the Philippines, Bulgaria (including the captain and first officer), Mexico, Ukraine and Romania.
On November 23, the USS "Thomas Hudner" shot down again “several suicide drones” that were heading towards their position, in what was the ship's second intervention in eight days. According to the statement by the US CENTCOM, the ship was conducting a patrol in international waters when it detected the two UAVs.
Two days later, on November 25, the container ship “Symi” was attacked by an Iranian Shahed-136 drone in the Indian Ocean. The ship, which the maritime security company Ambrey indicated had links to Israel, reported that it had suffered damage from the explosion caused by the drone, although no one was injured. Curiously, the crew had already begun to act days ago in anticipation of a possible attack, as they had turned off the ship's automatic identification system (AIS) shortly after setting sail from the port of Jebel Ali in Dubai.
On November 26, the chemical transport MV “Central Park” was boarded by five pirates in the Gulf of Aden while transporting a significant load of phosphoric acid, a material used to manufacture fertilizers. The American destroyer USS "Mason" responded to her distress call, capturing the five assailants of the ship – which were later confirmed to be of Somali origin – while trying to flee in small boats, being able to liberate “Central Park” in collaboration with the anti-piracy coalition of Task Force 151 (TF 151).
The next day, the USS "Mason" and a Liberian-flagged oil tanker were attacked by two ballistic missiles from the coast of Yemen. The missiles fell within a 10 nautical mile radius of the American ship, but did not hit any targets.
On November 29, the “Carney” shot down a KAS-04 UAV launched from Yemen, of Iranian manufacture, while escorting the supply ship USNS "Supply" and another ship flying the North American flag that were transporting military equipment to the region. According to the Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary, “it was a drone that was known to be heading towards Carney, and was intercepted because the commander considered it a serious threat.”
Following the successive incidents with merchant ships in the Red Sea region and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait up to this point, the United States began to study different, more assertive options to address the Red Sea crisis. According to statements by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan At the beginning of December, the United States began to consider the option of establishing a Maritime Task Force with other countries to protect trade in the region. This action force would be established outside the already existing TF 151 against piracy in the Indian Ocean.
December
On December 3, they were notified four attacks against three different vessels, connected to a total of 14 different nationalities (taking into account the nationality of the ship, its crew, and that of the company that operates them). The USS "Carney" responded to the ships' distress calls and intervened to neutralize the attacks.
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