Express View on Houthi rebels: Turbulence in the Red Sea
Threats from Houthi rebels could upend commerce in one of the world’s busiest trade routes. Long-term peace depends on resolution of Israel-Hamas conflict
On December 23, MV Chem Pluto, a Liberia-flagged, Japan-owned and Netherlands-operated tanker with a largely Indian crew, faced an attack. Hours later, MV Sai Baba with 25 Indians on board came under a drone attack in the Southern Red Sea. The conflict in West Asia has spilled over into one of the world’s busiest trade routes. Since mid-November, Houthi rebels who control large parts of Yemen have been firing drones and missiles on ships in the Red Sea. The rebels, reportedly backed by Iran, claim that the attacks are in solidarity with Hamas. But the turmoil has escalated in the last week with Houthi projectiles hitting ships with no clear links with Israel. In the last four days, two commercial ships with Indian connections have been hit.
On December 23, MV Chem Pluto, a Liberia-flagged, Japan-owned and Netherlands-operated tanker with a largely Indian crew, faced an attack. Hours later, MV Sai Baba with 25 Indians on board came under a drone attack in the Southern Red Sea. The Yemeni rebels have not claimed responsibility for these attacks. But the US Central Command has said that MV Sai Baba faced Houthi belligerence, while MV Chem Pluto was hit by a drone launched from Iran.
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