US Says Houthis Seek Allies in Bid to Upend Global Shipping

US officials believe that the Houthi rebels in Yemen are pursuing international partnerships with other militant groups as part of their campaign to disrupt global shipping and protest the Israel-Hamas war.

Author of the article:

Bloomberg News

Peter Martin

Published Jun 15, 2024 • 1 minute read

INTERNATIONAL WATERS RED SEA, YEMEN – NOVEMBER 20: This handout screen grab captured from a video shows Yemen’s Houthi fighters’ takeover of the Galaxy Leader Cargo in the Red Sea coast off Hudaydah, on November 20, 2023 in the Red Sea, Yemen. On Monday, the Houthi movement in Yemen released footage and photos of the Houthi-run coastguard taking over the Israeli-linked Galaxy Leader Vessel in the Red Sea, which had 52 people onboard. Galaxy Leader is owned by Galaxy Maritime Ltd in the Isle of Man and is linked to Israeli businessman Abraham Ungar through Ray Car Carriers. Photo by Handout /Photographer: Handout/Getty Imag

(Bloomberg) — US officials believe that the Houthi rebels in Yemen are pursuing international partnerships with other militant groups as part of their campaign to disrupt global shipping and protest the Israel-Hamas war.

Those efforts have already produced results through a nascent partnership with the Islamist insurgent group al-Shabab in Somalia, according to senior US defense officials who asked not to be identified discussing private assessments.

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The Houthi push is likely a result of the group’s desire to be taken more seriously around the world and to demonstrate that it can hold US and UK vessels at risk, the officials said. It is more likely to be a partnership of convenience than a result of ideological common ground between the two groups, the officials said.

The US government believes the Houthis seek to develop other partners in addition to al-Shabab, but it is not yet aware of other successful cases. The officials declined to provide more detail on the partnership with the Somali militant group, citing the need to protect intelligence sources and methods.

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Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea led to a 90% decline in container shipping through the area between December and February, US intelligence officials said this week in their first formal assessment of the rebel campaign’s economic impact.

The attacks have affected at least 65 countries and forced at least 29 major energy and shipping companies to alter their routes.

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