03 Dec 2023 | 03:08 PM UTC
Arabian Peninsula: Heightened maritime threat level likely to persist off Arabian Penisula through early January /update 3
Further incidents likely in Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and northern Arabian Sea through early January in response to Gaza conflict.
Further maritime incidents and heightened tensions are likely in the waters around the Arabian Peninsula through at least early January. The Al-Houthi rebels continue to target maritime assets affiliated with Israel and their supporters, including the US and the UK, in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden in solidarity with Hamas amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Iran, too, is suspected of likely targeting an Israel-linked vessel in recent weeks.
As of Dec. 3, the following incidents have been reported:
Dec. 3: The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) acknowledged reports of a drone and possible explosion occurring near the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait; unverified media reports allege a UK-owned vessel was struck by a rocket.
Nov. 26-27: US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that at least five armed individuals had boarded the tanker Central Park in the Gulf of Aden. The USS Mason responded along with an unidentified Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force warship, causing the individuals to flee. Mason pursued and arrested the individuals. Authorities have not confirmed the identity of those arrested. Following the incident, two ballistic missiles were launched from Al-Houthi-controlled territory in the direction of the vessels, impacting approximately 10 NM (19 km, 12 miles) away. No casualties or damage were reported.
Nov. 24: An Israeli-owned cargo vessel, the CMA CGM Symi, was targeted by a suspected Iranian Shahed-136 weaponized drone in the northern Arabian Sea. The vessel suffered damage; no casualties were reported.
Nov. 19: The Al-Houthis hijacked the Galaxy Leader vehicle carrier vessel in the Red Sea, bringing the vessel to Al-Hudaydah, where it remains. The ship was likely targeted due to its alleged ownership by an Israeli businessman. No casualties were reported during the hijacking.
In addition, a number of weaponized drones and ballistic and cruise missiles have been intercepted in the Red Sea region by US, Israeli, and Saudi Arabian air defenses. Impacts have been reported in Egypt and Jordan. Electronic interference, drone sightings, and instructions from individuals claiming to be Yemeni authorities have also been reported throughout the region in recent weeks.
A heightened naval presence is likely in the region as the conflict between Hamas and Israel continues to escalate. Further attacks are possible across the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and northern Arabian Sea in the coming days and weeks. Maritime disruptions are likely to occur.
Exercise caution and reconfirm routes with maritime authorities if transiting or shipping freight near the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and northern Arabian Sea. Companies should regularly review their ship security assessment and plan under the International Ship and Facility Security Code (ISPS), particularly in piracy-prone areas. Companies are advised to maintain strict anti-piracy watches and report all pirate activity, including both actual and attempted attacks, as well as suspicious sightings, to local naval authorities.
The recent developments coincide with increased tensions in the region connected to the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. Iranian-backed groups throughout the region have pledged solidarity with Palestine and carried out attacks against Israeli or US-linked targets since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack in southern Israel and the subsequent Israeli response.
Yemen's Iran-backed Al-Houthi rebels have stated that they regard Israeli shipping as a legitimate target and that they would continue attacks until Israel's operations in Gaza come to an end. The Al-Houthis possesses an extensive arsenal of anti-shipping weaponry, including naval mines, waterborne improvised explosive devices (WBIED), drones, and anti-ship cruise missiles. The group has previously attempted to seize vessels in the vicinity of Al-Hudaydah and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, and reports of suspicious approaches involving skiffs are relatively commonplace. US, Saudi, and Emirati naval vessels, as well as a number of civilian ships, have also been targeted during the nearly decade-long Yemeni Civil War. The Al-Houthis also possess ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and weaponized drones, some of which have the range to strike targets in Israel, and the group has claimed a number of attempted strikes on Israeli territory since Oct. 7.
Iran has struck Israel-linked shipping in the Arabian Sea multiple times in recent years. Typically, incidents involve the use of weaponized drones at long distances from shore and occur during periods of heightened tensions between the two countries, such as after alleged Israeli attacks on Iranian interests in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, or at sea.
