Greek shipping companies have become the latest targets in an intensified campaign by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have issued direct warnings of imminent attacks on vessels linked to Israel.
The threats, delivered through emails, signal a new phase in the Houthis‘ Red Sea operations, heightening security concerns across the global shipping industry and prompting some companies to avoid the strategic waterway altogether.
The initial warning came in late May when a senior executive at a Greek shipping company received a concerning message. The email, sent by the Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC)—a Yemen-based body coordinating between Houthi forces and commercial shipping—claimed that a Greek-managed vessel had violated a Houthi-imposed transit ban by docking at an Israeli port. It stated that the vessel would be “directly targeted by the Yemeni Armed Forces” and warned that sanctions could impact the entire fleet if the company continued to breach these rules.
Since May, similar threatening emails have been sent to at least six Greek shipping companies, according to industry sources. The threats represent an escalation in the Houthis’ maritime campaign, which has already seen nearly 100 attacks on ships in the Red Sea since November 2023, with actions including vessel seizures, sinkings, and the deaths of at least four seafarers. These incidents are being carried out in solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing Gaza conflict.
The Houthis’ latest email campaign widens their scope beyond vessels directly linked to Israel. Since last year, they have used armed drones, missiles, and explosive boats to target ships connected to Israeli, American, or British interests. Now, entire Greek fleets, with limited or no ties to Israel, are being warned. The HOCC’s threats to whole companies instead of individual ships mark a significant escalation, increasing uncertainty among shipowners.
The new threats have already prompted responses from the shipping community. At least two Greek companies have stopped Red Sea operations due to security concerns, while another company has ended business involving Israel to ensure safe transit through the Red Sea. “If safe transit through the Red Sea cannot be guaranteed, companies have a duty to act—even if that means delaying their delivery windows,” stated Stephen Cotton, General Secretary of the International Transport Workers’ Federation, underscoring the importance of prioritising the safety of seafarers.
Aspides, the European Union’s naval force tasked with ensuring safe passage through the Red Sea, confirmed the Houthis’ new tactics in a closed-door meeting with shipping companies in September. They described these developments as the start of a “fourth phase” in the Houthi campaign. Aspides urged shipowners to deactivate their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders, noting that missile accuracy significantly dropped when AIS systems were switched off.
The Houthis’ aggressive actions have led to operational changes for some shipping companies. Greece’s Conbulk Shipmanagement Corporation halted all voyages through the Red Sea after their vessel was attacked twice in August. “No Conbulk vessel is trading in the Red Sea. It mainly has to do with crew safety,” said Conbulk CEO Dimitris Dalakouras during a shipping conference in London. Crew safety has emerged as the leading concern for operators navigating the increasingly volatile waterway.
Many companies are avoiding the Red Sea, opting instead for longer and more expensive routes around Africa. This shift has drastically reduced Suez Canal traffic—from 2,000 monthly transits before November 2023 to 800 by August 2024. Still, some vessels must traverse the Red Sea due to binding contracts or essential logistics, despite the risks.
Not all ships face the same threat level. The Houthis, who are part of Iran’s Axis of Resistance against Israel, have reassured that Chinese and Russian-owned vessels are safe from attack. In a broadcast to ships in the Red Sea, the Houthis stated, “We are reassuring the ships belonging to companies that have no connection with the Israeli enemy that they are safe and have freedom of movement.”
(Source: Reuters)