Red Sea shipping traffic rebounds as Houthis limit targets

Red Sea maritime traffic has increased by 60% to approximately 36–37 vessels per day since August 2024, as Reuters reported.

However, it still falls short of the pre-crisis levels recorded before Yemen’s Houthi movement began targeting commercial shipping in the region, according to Rear Admiral Vasileios Gryparis, commander of the EU’s Aspides naval mission.

Gryparis explained that vessel numbers passing through the narrow Bab al-Mandab Strait have risen following a slowdown in Houthi missile and drone attacks, coupled with a ceasefire agreement reached between the United States and the rebel group.

Despite this rebound, traffic remains well below the average of 72–75 ships per day observed before the Houthi campaign began in November 2023, which was launched in support of Palestinians during the Israel-Gaza war. At its lowest point in August 2023, traffic had dropped to just 20–23 ships daily, he noted.

The group has narrowed its focus, publicly stating that it targets ships with Israeli ownership, links to Israel, or those that have called at Israeli ports, according to Gryparis.

“If your vessel doesn’t meet those criteria, there’s a more than 99% chance you won’t be targeted by the Houthis,” he said. However, he also cautioned that absolute guarantees could not be made regarding merchant ship safety.

Gryparis added that some shipping companies remain hesitant to use the route due to the limited number of Aspides mission vessels available for escort, which can lead to delays of up to a week.

So far, the Aspides operation has provided close protection for 476 commercial vessels, intercepted 18 drones, neutralized two remote-controlled boats used in attacks, and destroyed four ballistic missiles, according to Gryparis.

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