Weekly Newsletter

15 December 2023

Weekly Newsletter

15 December 2023

Signal: Yemen’s Houthi rebels to target ships of “any nationality”

Following a spate of hijackings in the Red Sea, the Houthis have threatened any ship calling at an Israeli port.

Alex Blair December 12 2023

Yemen’s Houthi rebels warned that ships “from any nationality” heading to Israel “will become a legitimate target for our armed forces”.

The announcement by Houthi spokesperson Yahya Sare’e marked an escalation in the group’s militant activities in the Red Sea.

https://twitter.com/Yahya_Saree/status/1733537821120487850

Ship hijackings aside, the Houthis have fired drones and missiles at Israel itself, including the key southern port city of Eilat.

The Houthis have concentrated attacks on the 18-mile-wide Bab al-Mandab Strait, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes located between Yemen and Djibouti, linking the Suez Canal to the Indian Ocean.

Without access to this lane, cargo ships will be forced to circumnavigate the Horn of Africa – prompting a rise in oil consumption and, ultimately, consumer prices.

A US response?

The Houthis also hit three commercial ships with ballistic missiles on 3 December.

The USS Carney, a US Navy destroyer, shot down a drone and killed five militants “in self-defence”, according to a statement from the US Central Command.

https://twitter.com/USNavy/status/1733634409813713254

Despite the recent expansion of the CTF-153, a Red Sea-focused security force operated by the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), analysts have said the Houthis’ aggression has largely gone unanswered.

“Expansion of CTF-153 should not be conflated with deterrence”, Middle East Institute scholar Jason Brodsky said on X (formerly Twitter). “The latter is needed in addition to the former”.

Saudi Arabia has implored the US to exercise restraint in its response to the Iran-backed Houthis attacks.

https://twitter.com/JasonMBrodsky/status/1734170428048851161

UKMTO accuses Houthis of impersonation

On Friday (8 December), the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) warned of unidentified individuals in the Red Sea attempting to commandeer vessels by claiming to be “Yemeni authorities”.

The UKMTO, which coordinates between commercial shipping firms and the UK Royal Navy, said this latest incident took place near the port of Hodeidah on Yemen’s western coast.

https://twitter.com/UK_MTO/status/1733067227878814117

The Houthis, who control western Yemen including the capital Sana’a, declared war on Israel in response to ongoing conflict in Palestine.

The Islamist group first threatened Israeli ships on 14 November, before releasing a widely viewed video of Houthi soldiers hijacking an allegedly Israeli-owned ship five days later.

https://twitter.com/PopularFront_/status/1726684146439696641

Our signals coverage is powered by GlobalData’s Thematic Engine, which tags millions of data items across six alternative datasets — patents, jobs, deals, company filings, social media mentions and news — to themes, sectors and companies. These signals enhance our predictive capabilities, helping us to identify the most disruptive threats across each of the sectors we cover and the companies best placed to succeed.

Analyzing the key trends in luxury travel

In 2022, luxury travel took on a new perspective, prioritizing experiences over material possessions. Travelers sought personalized and customized journeys, while also embracing sustainability and responsible travel practices. With the increasing number of people working remotely and enjoying greater flexibility in their schedules, there has been a noticeable surge in bleisure travel.

Newsletters by sectors

close

Sign up to the newsletter: In Brief

Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

Thank you for subscribing

View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network.

close