Iran-backed rebels threaten to block the passage of ships of any nationality bound for Israel through the Red Sea. On Friday, the container ship “Al Jasrah” was shot and damaged in the strait between Yemen and Djibouti.
Shipping companies Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd then decided not to send any more ships through the canal, which offers the shortest sea route from Asia to Europe. About ten percent of all world trade passes through the Red Sea.
Expensive and inconvenient alternative route
French shipping company CMA CGM and the world's largest container shipping company, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), also no longer intend to route ships through the canal for now. “The situation continues to deteriorate and security concerns are increasing,” the French said in a statement on Saturday.
The MSC affected the Liberian-flagged “Palatium III” in the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the southern tip of the Red Sea. The rebels said they attacked the ship with a drone. The strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and is one of the world's most important routes for transporting raw materials, especially crude oil and fuel from the Gulf.
MSC said the ship suffered fire damage and needed repairs. The crew were not injured. MSC said it would route some ships around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. This will extend the travel time of ships booked to transit the Suez Canal by a few days.
Downed drones
On Saturday, a US Navy destroyer shot down 14 drones in the Red Sea that the US said were from the Houthis. There were no injuries or damage. A large number of drones were fired at the area around Eilat in southern Israel, the Iran-backed rebels said on their Telegram channel on Saturday.
In the early morning hours of December 16 (Sanna time), the Arliegh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS CARNEY (DDG 64), operating in the Red Sea, successfully engaged 14 unmanned aerial systems launched as a wave of drones from areas controlled by the Houthi. from Yemen. The UAS were… pic.twitter.com/Rjkzng5LxW
– US Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 16, 2023
In London, British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps also announced that the warship “HMS Diamond” shot down a suspected attack drone that was targeting merchant ships in the Red Sea. “A Sea Viper missile was fired and successfully destroyed the target,” he wrote on X (Twitter).
Shipowners want military help
In Germany, the German Shipowners' Association (VDR) called for an international military alliance to protect civilian shipping in the Red Sea – with the involvement of the German Bundeswehr. “It would be appropriate if Germany participated accordingly,” said association president Martin Kröger at Bayerischer Rundfunk on Saturday. The US, France and England are already present in the region with military ships, said Kröger.
It's not just about protecting merchant ships, but also seafarers: “If you imagine you're on the ship and you're being targeted by rockets, drones and cruise missiles, that's obviously an escalation of violence like we're seeing.” We have never seen anything like this with merchant shipping and it is simply completely unacceptable,” said Kröger.
He referred to the experience of protecting cargo ships against pirates in the Horn of Africa. “One of the most effective means was convoy travel, where warships accompanied merchant ships.” These had the necessary weapons on board to fend off drone and missile attacks. From 2008 to 2022, the Bundeswehr participated in the EU mission “Atalanta” to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia. In the shipping lanes off Somalia, pirates have repeatedly carried out armed attacks against merchant ships and food transports from the United Nations World Food Program.
Usage is being checked
Kröger made the comments after the German Defense Ministry announced it was examining a naval deployment in the region at the request of the United States. “We are currently reviewing the request and available options. But we have not yet reached the end of the test,” said German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
The president of the German Defense Committee, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, also spoke in favor of such an operation involving the German Navy. It is “consequential that all who depend on the transportation of their goods across the Red Sea must participate,” she continued. This also involves ships from European companies. She demanded: “We must resolutely confront terrorists of all stripes.”
Houthis want to continue attacks
Since the start of the war in Gaza, Houthi rebels have repeatedly attacked Israel with drones and rockets, among other things. Recently, they have also focused on Red Sea ships. They declared that ships of any nationality heading to Israel were “legitimate targets” of their armed forces until the Gaza Strip received the food and medicine it needed. The rebels, who control much of Yemen, also wanted to continue their attacks until Israel ended its offensive.