Arabian Peninsula: Shipping in Red Sea remains disrupted as of Jan. 2 following attacks against vessels /update 5

Major shipping companies, including Maersk, CMA CGM, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd, and COSCO maintain a policy of reduced or suspended transits through the Red Sea as of Jan. 2 due to the increased threat posed by Al-Houthi rebels amid heightened regional tensions stemming from the Israel-Hamas conflict. CMA CGM, MSC, and COSCO have announced a partial suspension, permitting some vessels to transit the Red Sea while re-routing others around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. Hapag-Lloyd and oil and gas producer BP have implemented a total suspension. Maersk announced Dec. 24 that it would allow some vessels to make the transit after nine days of suspension, but reinstated the suspension indefinitely following an attack on one of its vessels Dec. 30. Other companies have ceased offering services to and from Israel. Additional companies may also halt operations in the Red Sea or to Israel in the near term. The continued disruption comes despite the formation of a US-led expanded maritime protection force in and around the Red Sea dubbed Operation Prosperity Guardian.

Further maritime incidents and heightened tensions are likely in the waters around the Arabian Peninsula through at least mid-January, along with associated disruptions. As a show of solidarity with Hamas amid that group's ongoing war with Israel, the Al-Houthi rebels continue to target maritime assets affiliated with Israel in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, including vessels sailing to or from Israeli ports. Although none have been struck, US warships have possibly also been targeted by drones and missiles launched from Al-Houthi-controlled territory. Iran, too, is suspected of targeting an Israel-linked vessel in recent weeks.

Attacks are typically preceded by an entity claiming to be the Yemeni Navy hailing the vessel on Channel 16 VHF in an attempt to divert the vessel towards Yemen. Individuals may also attempt to board the vessel from skiffs or fast boats, and exchanges of fire with ships' armed security teams have been reported.

As of Jan. 2, the following incidents have been reported:

• Dec. 30-31: Cargo vessel Maersk Hangzhou was struck by a missile in the southern Red Sea late Dec. 30, causing an unspecified amount of damage, though the vessel remained seaworthy. While responding to the distress call, US destroyer USS Gravely shot down two anti-ship ballistic missiles. Early Dec. 31, Maersk Hangzhou was approached by four small boats crewed by Al-Houthi rebels who opened fire with crew-served and small arms weapons, approaching to within 20 meters (66 feet) of the vessel. The armed security team aboard returned fire. US helicopters from the Gravely and the carrier USS Eisenhower responded and sank three of the boats, killing the crews. No casualties were reported among the crew of Maersk Hangzhou or US forces.

• Dec. 26: MSC-owned cargo vessel United VIII was struck by a missile in the Red Sea. No casualties were reported. The Al-Houthi rebels claimed the attack.

• Dec. 23: Commercial tanker Chem Pluto was struck by a drone approximately 200 nm (370 km, 230 miles) southwest of Veraval, India. The incident caused an explosion and fire, but no casualties. The US has accused Iran of the attack. In the Red Sea, tankers Blaamanen and Sai Baba were targeted by drones, with Sai Baba being hit and suffering light damage.

• Dec. 18: The tanker Swan Atlantic was targeted by multiple projectiles in the southern Red Sea. The extent of any damage or casualties remains unclear. The UKMTO reported two further incidents in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandab Strait Dec. 18; no further information is currently available.

• Dec. 15: The cargo vessel MSC Al Jasrah was struck by a projectile launched from Al-Houthi-controlled territory, causing a fire on the vessel’s deck. A later attempt to target Al Jasrah reportedly struck the nearby MSC Palatium III, with a third projectile missing both vessels. No casualties were reported among the crew of either vessel. Houthi officials also claimed an attack on MSC Alanya, a claim denied by MSC.

• Dec. 14: Al-Houthi forces targeted cargo vessel Maersk Gibraltar with a ballistic missile in the Bab el-Mandab Strait. The missile exploded a short distance away from the vessel, causing no damage or casualties. Following the attack, an entity claiming to be the Yemeni Navy hailed the vessel in a failed attempt to divert the vessel to Yemen. An Al-Houthi spokesperson later claimed that Maersk Gibraltar had been targeted as it was sailing to Israel, and that a successful drone strike had been carried out. The claim was denied by Maersk. In a separate incident, cargo vessel Ruen was boarded by unknown assailants 700 NM east of Bossaso, Somalia. The incident has been classified as a hijacking, with the vessel located approximately 8 NM (15 km, 9 miles) north of Abo, in the Somali province of Puntland, as of Dec. 17. EU and Indian naval forces are monitoring the vessel. The status of the crew is unknown. It remains unclear whether this incident is related to Al-Houthi or Iranian action.

• Dec. 13: US officials stated that Al-Houthi rebels launched two missiles at the tanker Ardmore Encounter near the Bab el-Mandab Strait, with neither missile striking the vessel. The incident came following an exchange of fire between the tanker’s armed security team and a number of individuals aboard a skiff. Individuals claiming to be the Yemeni Navy hailed the vessel and instructed it to divert to a Yemeni port following the exchange of fire and prior to the missile attack. US Navy destroyer USS Mason shot down one drone during the incident. No casualties were reported.

• Dec. 12: US officials report that a missile launched from Al-Houthi-controlled territory struck the Norwegian-owned chemical tanker M/T Strinda near the Bab el-Mandab Strait. The attack caused a fire on board but did not result in any casualties.

• Dec. 3: US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that at least three vessels in the southern Red Sea had been targeted and struck by missiles, including at least one anti-ship ballistic missile. US destroyer USS Carney provided support to the three vessels and shot down a number of drones heading in its direction over the course of the day. None of the vessels struck reported any casualties.

• Nov. 26-27: 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 months.

A heightened naval presence is certain in the region as the conflict between Hamas and Israel continues. 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.