On Monday 10th March, the U.S.-British coalition reportedly conducted airstrikes in western Yemen targeting port cities and small towns in defense of commercial shipping, according to a spokesperson for Yemen’s internationally recognized government. The airstrikes is reported to have left at least 11 people and 14 others injured.
The targeted areas were the strategic port city of Hodeidah and Ras Issa Port, with at least 17 airstrikes recorded across the country, as reported by Al Masirah, a prominent Houthi-run television news outlet.
The recent airstrikes come immediately after escalating tensions of attacks on commercial shipping by the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, who launched their offensive in solidarity with Palestinians amid the Israel-Palestine conflict.
These attacks are notable to have coincided with the onset of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month marked by fasting, as this is increasing the complexity of the entire situation.
Despite efforts by the U.S.-British coalition and other naval forces to bring down the extremist actions, the Houthis have intensified their assault on commercial vessels, which is a threat to one of the world’s busiest maritime routes. Recent incidents is seen as consequences of the escalating conflict, with civilian casualties and vessel losses mounting.
A tragic development reported that three crew members of the Barbados-flagged True Confidence, operated by a Greek company, were killed in an attack near the port of Aden.
This was followed by the sinking of the cargo ship Rubymar, which succumbed to a Houthi missile strike on February 18, highlighting the perilous conditions faced by vessels navigating through the region’s volatile waters.
As a result of heightened security risks, many ships are now opting for longer and costlier routes, which would result in a bypass of the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea in favor of the safer passage via Africa’s Cape of Good Hope to reach the Suez Canal.
This diversion increases shipping expenses by a huge margin which therefore, worsens logistical challenges and disrupting global trade routes.
The evolving situation in Yemen is emphasizing the urgent need for diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and address the root causes of the conflict to restore stability to the region.