Undeterred Houthi attacks squeeze international trade
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.

Overhead imagery documented the Rubymar cargo ship before it sank. Photo: Maxar Technologies/satellite image
Drone and missile barrages launched by Houthi rebels in Yemen are holding hostage a vital commercial waterway, delaying humanitarian aid and imposing millions of dollars of extra costs.
Why it matters: U.S. and allied firepower has failed to stem the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden attacks, which are bolstered by an Iranian regime eager to arm its proxies.
By the numbers: The interests of more than 65 countries have been affected, and at least 29 major shipping and energy companies have rerouted away from the region, according to a new U.S. intelligence report.
- Container shipping through the Red Sea declined by roughly 90% as of mid-February. The passage typically accounts for 10-15% of international maritime trade.
- Insurance premiums for transits rose to 1% of a ship's total value in the same timeframe.
- Alternate routes around Africa tack on 11,000 nautical miles, up to two weeks of travel time and $1 million in fuel.
- More than a dozen commercial ships were struck between November and March. A handful of hijackings were also attempted.
Catch up quick: Houthi harassment of civilian and military vessels began late last year.
- The militant group initially said its attacks were in retaliation to Israel's war in Gaza. But many of its targets have no affiliation with the country.
- The Rubymar, a British-owned cargo ship, was sunk in March. It carried 21,000 metric tons of fertilizer that officials feared would spark an ecological disaster.
- The U.S. Navy has so far expended $1 billion in munitions as it contends with anti-ship ballistic and cruise missiles and exploding drones in the area.
Bottom line: "While many attacks have missed or been intercepted, Houthi stockpiles appear nowhere near exhausted, even as sporadic U.S. and U.K. strikes against them continue," said Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank.
- "This is as much a political problem as it is military."
