Airstrikes carried out by Israel and the United States on Houthi military positions appear to have failed to eliminate the threat to ships transiting the Arabian Sea and the Red Sea. On October 28, 2024, the Yemeni Houthi spokesman, Yahya Sarea, claimed missile and drone attacks against three vessels, including two container ships: the SC Montreal in the Arabian Sea and the Maersk Kowloon in the western Indian Ocean. However, Maersk denied that any of its vessels were attacked. The third ship targeted by the Houthis was reportedly the bulk carrier Motaro, which was sailing off Yemen's western coast.
According to Sarea, the three vessels were en route to an Israeli port. Other sources reported explosions: British company Ambrey detected two blasts near a merchant vessel about 14 miles southwest of Al Dhubab, and the UK Maritime Trade Operations reported three explosions 25 miles south of the Yemeni port of Mokha. The Houthis reaffirmed that they will continue these actions until Israel ceases its operations in Gaza and Lebanon.
An article in The Wall Street Journal claims that Russia is providing satellite information to the Houthis through Iran, enabling more precise missile and drone attacks. The U.S. newspaper did not cite sources, but indicated that the data transmission was mediated by Iran's Revolutionary Guards, with some members of the unit reportedly present in Yemen. For Russia, the attacks in the Red Sea are aimed at destabilizing the European economy and forcing the United States to deploy military resources in the Middle East, diverting attention from Ukraine. According to U.S. sources, Russia could supply missiles to the Houthis if the war in Ukraine continues.
Since the Houthis began targeting merchant vessels in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea in November 2023, more than one hundred missile, aerial, and naval drone attacks have been recorded, causing damage to 34 vessels and the sinking of the Rubymar in February 2024. In March, an attack on the True Confidence resulted in the death of three crew members. Additionally, in November 2023, a Houthi action seized the car carrier Galaxy Leader of the Israeli company Ray Shipping, which remains in their possession.
