Situation in the Red Sea (Houthi Thread)

Shell will suspend shipping through the Red Sea indefinitely according to the WSJ

Companies that have suspended transiting through the Red Sea so far:

1-British Petroleum (BP).
2-OOCL Hong Kong.
3-The Italian-Swiss company MSC.
4-German Hapag-Lloyd Company.
5-Danish Maersk Company (additional fees).
6-Israeli Zim Company.
7-Israeli Tsim Company.
8-French CMA CGM company.
9- Taiwanese Evergreen Line Company.
10-Belgian Euronav Company.
11- Taiwanese Yangming Company.
12-Norwegian Front Line oil tanker group.
13- ONE Singapore Company.
14-Norwegian company Equinor.
15-Wilnaeus Wilhelmsen Company.
16- Japanese company Mitsui OSK Lines.
17- Japanese Nippon Yusen Company.
18-Chinese Cosco Company.
19-CH Robinson Company.
20-British Hafnia Company.
21-Danish Torm Company.
22- Japanese company NYK.
23-British Shell Company.



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A Malta flagged Greek owned ship has been hit by a missile



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Earlier today there was a boarding attempt near the Yemeni coast. Threw speedboats approached a vessel, the attackers were scared off



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China has called for an immediate end to the attacks in the Red Sea/Gulf of Aden


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The two Navy Seals that perished in the Gulf of Aden died when they fell off a ladder attempting to enter an ship suspected of transporting Iranian arms to Yemen.



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Ansarallah's official media arm has published a declaration in which it states that all US/UK naval assets are legitimate targets.

The video below is Ansarallah's.

 
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Full text:

USCENTCOM Seizes Iranian Advanced Conventional Weapons Bound for Houthis
On 11 January 2024, while conducting a flag verification, U.S. CENTCOM Navy forces conducted a night-time seizure of a dhow conducting illegal transport of advanced lethal aid from Iran to resupply Houthi forces in Yemen as part of the Houthis’ ongoing campaign of attacks against international merchant shipping.
U.S. Navy SEALs operating from USS LEWIS B PULLER (ESB 3), supported by helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), executed a complex boarding of the dhow near the coast of Somalia in international waters of the Arabian Sea, seizing Iranian-made ballistic missile and cruise missiles components. Seized items include propulsion, guidance, and warheads for Houthi medium range ballistic missiles (MRBMs) and anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs), as well as air defense associated components. Initial analysis indicates these same weapons have been employed by the Houthis to threaten and attack innocent mariners on international merchant ships transiting in the Red Sea.
This is the first seizure of lethal, Iranian-supplied advanced conventional weapons (ACW) to the Houthis since the beginning of Houthi attacks against merchant ships in November 2023. The interdiction also constitutes the first seizure of advanced Iranian-manufactured ballistic missile and cruise missile components by the U.S. Navy since November 2019. The direct or indirect supply, sale, or transfer of weapons to the Houthis in Yemen violates U.N. Security Resolution 2216 and international law.
Two U.S. Navy SEALs previously reported as lost at sea were directly involved in this operation. “We are conducting an exhaustive search for our missing teammates,” said General Michael Erik Kurilla, USCENTCOM Commander.
The dhow was deemed unsafe and sunk by U.S. Navy forces. Disposition of the 14 dhow crewmembers is being determined in accordance with international law.
“It is clear that Iran continues shipment of advanced lethal aid to the Houthis. This is yet another example of how Iran actively sows instability throughout the region in direct violation of U.N Security Resolution 2216 and International law,” said General Michael Erik Kurilla, "We will continue to work with regional and international partners to expose and interdict these efforts, and ultimately to reestablish freedom of navigation.”
 
Shell will suspend shipping through the Red Sea indefinitely according to the WSJ

Companies that have suspended transiting through the Red Sea so far:

1-British Petroleum (BP).
2-OOCL Hong Kong.
3-The Italian-Swiss company MSC.
4-German Hapag-Lloyd Company.
5-Danish Maersk Company (additional fees).
6-Israeli Zim Company.
7-Israeli Tsim Company.
8-French CMA CGM company.
9- Taiwanese Evergreen Line Company.
10-Belgian Euronav Company.
11- Taiwanese Yangming Company.
12-Norwegian Front Line oil tanker group.
13- ONE Singapore Company.
14-Norwegian company Equinor.
15-Wilnaeus Wilhelmsen Company.
16- Japanese company Mitsui OSK Lines.
17- Japanese Nippon Yusen Company.
18-Chinese Cosco Company.
19-CH Robinson Company.
20-British Hafnia Company.
21-Danish Torm Company.
22- Japanese company NYK.
23-British Shell Company.
Meanwhile Chinese CUL (China United Lines) launches a new a container shipping service in the Red Sea.
 
A Malta flagged Greek owned ship has been hit by a missile



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Earlier today there was a boarding attempt near the Yemeni coast. Threw speedboats approached a vessel, the attackers were scared off



Could be the same ship in both incidents.
Piraeus-based Vulcanus Technical Maritime Enterprises confirmed that the 56,900 dwt Zografia (built 2010) was targeted in the Red Sea but the crew were unharmed.
Separate incident reports published by maritime security firms and organisations suggest that the ship was attacked twice — once by a small craft and later by missile.
The first attack happened on the night to Tuesday, when a small craft approached the vessel approximately 44 miles northwest of Mocha, Yemen. The craft, however, abandoned the approach following evasive manoeuvres by the vessel and armed guards firing warning shots.
The Houthis responded later in the day by firing a missile on the ship as it was sailing further north, about 76 nautical miles (141 kilometres) northwest of al-Saleef, Yemen. “The bulker sustained minor damage, which allowed her to continue her voyage northbound towards Suez,” Athens-based maritime security firm Diaplous said.

And for those interested in looking for an Israeli connection:
The Malta-flagged ship does not have any ownership links to Israel and is controlled by Greek owner Aristotelis Theodoridis.
According to Clarksons and Signal Ocean data, however, the Zografia did visit the Israeli port of Eilat in October.

 
^The logistics picture is interesting. The Royal Navy has no supply ships? The US Navy has no tender ships that can resupply missiles at sea?

Now, the Chinese appear to be setting up the Red Sea Valet Service. That might explain the indiscriminate (to me, inexplicable) targeting of so many nationalities of vessels. Did Houthis make a deal with China? PRC operates the valet service and pays a toll fee to the Houthis? Other than that, none shall pass?

Meanwhile, here's an interesting thread on the USS Eisenhauer in the Med:



All is calm.


Anyone admires a cool-headed commander in a storm, but the cog dis is getting pretty high here. IRGC just launched a missile strike at 1200 KM range, and they have proxies all around the region. US Navy appears very confident.
 
Now, the Chinese appear to be setting up the Red Sea Valet Service. That might explain the indiscriminate (to me, inexplicable) targeting of so many nationalities of vessels. Did Houthis make a deal with China? PRC operates the valet service and pays a toll fee to the Houthis? Other than that, none shall pass?

It's probably just typical Chinese business practice, ie. a high risk ambitious business plan yet not too concerned with the well being of the ship and crew. Some would call it predatory.

Chinese shipping giant Cosco, apparantly with a more responsible board, suspended transiting through the Red Sea. It's not as if Ansarallah hasn't fired at Chinese vessels so far. They are taking potshots left and right. It's a shoot first ask questions later kind of thing.

As for the position of the PRC, they as always keep a low profile barring some mealy mouthed noise in public. Hence Chinese media channels talk endlessly about US/UK aggression, yet China quietly OK'd a United Nations Security Council Resolution on January 11, condemning Ansarallah strikes in the Red Sea. But as always with that plausible deniability - abstaining from voting whilst they could just have torpedoed the Resolution if they'd wanted to. But they didn't, hence they are complicit.



In the compiled thread an article containing an official Chinese communique regarding the attacks was included - with the statement saying the attacks in the Red Sea need to stop as they threaten international shipping. Likewise the PRC also condemns US/UK strikes on Yemen.

So where does China then stand? Safely in the center, hoping it doesn't get noticed.


This is China in a nutshell. Little power projection beyond its borders, ambiguous messaging and a mercantilist attitude.
 
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The IRGC has targeted an Iranian-Baluch jihadist rebel group on Pakistani soil. This comes after yesterday's IRGC missile attacks on Syrian and Iraqi territory.

At least two ballistic missiles were fired at a Pakistani border village which supposedly is a Jaish al Adl hub. Several civilians were killed. There are long standing rumours on the latter being a three letter agency tool. Baluchistan is a lawless area of Pakistan. Jaish al Adl has carried out plenty of attacks in Iran.

Pakistan and Iran used to have friendly relations. Not sure if that will continue after today. Some say the attack was coordinated and the Pakistani indignation is feigned.

IMG_20240117_041336_986.webp

Response from allegedly a Pakistani state personIMG_20240117_041359_327.webp
 
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Details:
A drone attack has reportedly hit a Genco Shipping & Trading bulker in the Gulf of Aden even as the US government ramped up pressure on the Iranian-backed militant group.
A statement by Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said on Wednesday on social media channels that an attack struck the New York shipowner’s 55,300-dwt Genco Picardy (built 2005).
Earlier in the day, the Royal Navy’s UK Maritime Trade Operations said that a ship was hit on the port side by an uncrewed aerial system, also known as a drone. The agency said the attack sparked a fire on the vessel that has now been extinguished and the vessel and crew are safe and proceeding to their next port of call.
TradeWinds has reached out to a Genco executive for comment.
Tracking data from VesselsValue shows that the ship last broadcast an automatic information system signal two days ago, when it was in the Red Sea after picking up a cargo in Safaga, Egypt. It was headed for Thoothukudi, the Indian city better known by its old name Tuticorin.
Maritime security firm Diaplous Group said a warship has responded to the incident.
The attack would mark the second attack on a US-owned ship since a coalition forces launched air and naval strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.
 
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Bomb went off outside of Greek office of the Israeli shipping company "Zim".

Unknown, pro-Palestinian activists set off a small explosive device outside offices in Piraeus where Israeli container liner company Zim is located. Two gas canisters were used in the pre-dawn blast which caused slight material damage to a wall and a fuse panel, according to a police source.
Apart from Zim, the office building also houses the Greek branch of maritime security firm Diaplous Group. Managers at both companies were not immediately available to comment. However, police sources said the attack most likely targeted Zim and that its perpetrators were motivated by Israel’s war against the Palestinian Hamas group in Gaza. Protest leaflets were found at the entrance of the building reading “Freedom for Palestine”.
 
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