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The National
08-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Houthis' tactical upgrade in Red Sea attacks and what it means
In only 48 hours, Yemen's Houthi rebels have pulled off two sophisticated attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, combining armed boats, drones, rockets and missiles. This marks a tactical shift from their earlier, simpler use of missiles and drones, stepping up into co-ordinated air-and-sea assaults meant to overwhelm basic defences on board the ships. Here, The National look at the attacks and what the tactical upgrade means: Magic Seas Houthi fighters attacked the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Magic Seas using fast, small boats equipped with rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons. At the same time, explosive-laden drone boats slammed into the hull. Damage was extensive enough that the crew had to abandon ship. Eternity C A day later, the cargo vessel Eternity C was struck in nearly the same area of the Red Sea: armed skiffs unleashed bursts of gunfire, while explosive drones detonated around the deck. Missiles and small rockets were also used. Two crew members were killed. Why it matters Previously, the Houthis relied on missiles, single-use drones or occasionally boat-launched rockets. Now, they have wired these elements into a multipronged 'swarm' approach, with surface boats, aerial drones, missiles, and firearms all converging on a single target The simultaneous use of airborne and surface threats forces defenders to split focus, making interception more difficult Captain Marvin Scott of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower told Janes magazine that the Houthis have 'evolved from basic drone surveillance to co-ordinated, multi-domain assaults'. He explained they started off with simple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, one-way attacks, and then anti-ship ballistic cruise and land-attack missiles. "They try now to co-ordinate and attack using multidomain and multiaccess," he added There seem to be complaints of no naval backup in the area when the ships were attacked. In the absence of military assets in the Red Sea, private security guards stand between the Houthis and seafarers, said Joshua Hutchinson, managing director of intelligence and risk at maritime security firm Ambrey. Wider context This intensifying Houthi approach mirrors how Israel and others have engaged them. Israel, for example, used about 20 aircraft to strike Houthi-controlled ports, power stations and even a captured ship after the Magic Seas attack, dropping more than 50 munitions in quick succession. According to a Yemeni source in Sanaa, these maritime strikes are not a deviation; they are part of a steady campaign aimed at Israel-linked ships. The Houthis see themselves as part of an 'Axis of Resistance' aligned with Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas, and they have vowed to continue pressing on with the fight, despite Israeli and US-UK strikes. Their campaign resumed after a temporary pause. In May, President Donald Trump announced a truce and said the US would stop targeting Houthi positions after the group agreed to halt attacks. But the following month, after US strikes on Iran, the Houthis declared their intention to resume operations. The attack on the Magic Seas was their first major statement of return. What it means for shipping The Red Sea corridor, which normally handles 12 per cent of global trade and connects Europe to Asia, is once again a conflict zone Dozens of major shipping companies have already diverted vessels, adding 10 to 14 days to journeys and up to $1 million in additional fuel per trip Early last year, when the number of similar Houthi attacks surged, container traffic through the Suez Canal dropped by more than 50 per cent. The resulting delays and rerouting contributed to rising global shipping costs, insurance premiums and commodity prices, from crude oil to wheat Naval coalitions, including the EU's Operation Aspides and the US-led Prosperity Guardian, have stepped up patrols. But western officials acknowledge that defending against hybrid swarms is far more difficult than intercepting lone missiles. In two days, the Houthis have shifted to a potent hybrid doctrine, pairing surface and air assaults in near-perfect synchronicity, experts say. They have adapted, elevating the dangers in the Red Sea and potentially forcing a recalibration of naval defence strategies.
BreakingNews.ie
23-06-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Trump calls for producers to pump more oil amid Iran shipping lane fears
President Donald Trump called for the US and other oil-producing economies to pump more oil as crude prices remain volatile following strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Mr Trump urged stepped-up production as the White House sharpened its warnings to Iran against closing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil and gas shipping lane, in retaliation for the US strikes on Iran's nuclear programme. Advertisement 'To the Department of Energy: DRILL, BABY, DRILL!!! And I mean NOW!!!' Mr Trump posted on social media. He added: 'EVERYONE, KEEP OIL PRICES DOWN. I'M WATCHING! YOU'RE PLAYING RIGHT INTO THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY. DON'T DO IT!' The push by Mr Trump comes at an uncertain moment as US embassies and military installations in the Middle East are on high alert for potential retaliation. The USS Dwight D Eisenhower and other warships cross the Strait of Hormuz into the Persian Gulf (Information Technician Second Class Ruskin Naval/U.S. Navy via AP) Global markets are trying to ascertain what lays ahead after the US struck key Iranian nuclear facilities with a barrage of 30,000-pound bunker busting bombs and Tomahawk missiles. Advertisement Iran's parliament has approved cutting off the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping lane in the Persian Gulf that about 20% of global oil and gas passes through. It is now up to Iran's national security council to decide whether to move forward with the idea, which could lead to a spike in the cost of goods and services worldwide. The price of oil jumped 4% shortly after trading began on Sunday night, but it quickly pared back as the focus shifted from what the US military did to how Iran would react. Oil futures were flip-flopping in Monday morning trading between gains and losses. They still remain higher than they were before the fighting began a little more than a week ago. Advertisement White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt warned Tehran anew against closing the strait, saying 'the Iranian regime would be foolish to make that decision'. The State Department has doubled the number of emergency evacuation flights it is providing for American citizens wishing to leave Israel, and ordered the departure of nonessential staff from the US Embassy in Lebanon. It also is stepping up travel warnings around the Middle East because of concerns Iran will retaliate against US interests in the region. In an alert sent to all Americans worldwide and posted to its website on Sunday, the State Department warned all US citizens abroad to exercise caution. Advertisement White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt (Evan Vucci/AP) The US Embassy in Qatar issued an alert on its website on Monday urging American citizens in the energy-rich nation to 'shelter in place until further notice'. Hours later, the Qatari government issued an extraordinary order to shut its busy airspace. Qatar, across the Persian Gulf from Iran, is home to Al Udeid Air Base, which hosts the forward headquarters of the US military's Central Command. Many energy industry analysts are sceptical that Iran would go forward with a full closure of the strait, something that it has threatened to do in the past. Advertisement Iran would face the possibility of retaliation against its own shipments and the possibility that the move would upset China, the biggest purchaser of Iranian crude.
