Houthi Rebels at Sea: Escalating Tensions Beyond Borders

23-11-2023

Andrej Confalonieri

Middle East and Human Rights Researcher

Global Human Rights Defence

The cargo ship Galaxy Leader was hijacked in the Red Sea on 19 November 2023. [1] The incident occurred near Hodeida, Yemen, while the Galaxy Leader was en route to India. The ship had a multinational crew of 25 individuals from countries including Bulgaria, Mexico, the Philippines, and Ukraine. The hijacking raised significant concerns as Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed responsibility, despite Iran denying involvement. [2] Contrary to the rebels’ claims that the vessel was Israeli, both Israel and Japan clarified that the ship was not of Israeli origin but operated by Nippon Yusen, a Japanese shipping company. The ship is owned by Galaxy Maritime Ltd and managed by Ray Car Carriers, which is co-owned by Israeli businessman Abraham Ungar. It was reportedly unlawfully boarded by military personnel via helicopter, as suggested by unverified footage released by the Houthis. [3] Japan and the United States swiftly condemned the hijacking, labelling it a breach of international law. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno expressed strong disapproval and called for the immediate release of the ship and its crew. [4] The Houthis, in their declaration following the seizure, emphasised that this event marked the start of a broader “battle at sea”. Earlier, the group had threatened to target Israeli ships in response to Israel’s military actions in Gaza following an attack by Hamas militants on October 7. [5] But who are the Houthis, and why are they targeting Israel?

During the late 1990s, the Houthi family initiated a religious revival movement for the Zaydi sect of Shi’ite Islam in northern Yemen. The lands once ruled by the Zaydi sect, a dominant force in Yemen, had become poor and marginalised. As tensions heightened with the Yemeni government, the Houthis engaged in guerrilla warfare against the national army and had a conflict with Saudi Arabia. [6] The Yemen conflict erupted in late 2014 after the Houthis captured Sanaa. Concerned about Shi’ite Iran’s influence, Saudi Arabia led a coalition, backed by Western states, to support the Saudi-backed government. Ultimately, the Houthis gained control over significant parts of the north and other densely populated areas, while the internationally recognised government is based in Aden. [7] 

Since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Houthis have attacked Israel on multiple occasions, notably launching a “large number” of ballistic missiles and drones towards Israel. [8] Yahya Saree, Houthi military spokesperson, stated that the attacks aimed to support Palestinians in their conflict with Israel, intending “to help the Palestinians to victory”. [9] Saree further confirmed Houthi involvement in three attacks on Israel since the conflict’s start, including a drone strike on October 28 and a missile interception by the United States Navy on October 19. The Houthis, backed by Iran as part of an “Axis of Resistance”, aligned themselves with the Palestinians after Hamas attacked Israel and blamed Israel for regional instability. [10] Saree added that the Houthis would continue their attacks “until the Israeli aggression stops”. 

Sources and further reading

[1] Al Jazeera, ‘Yemen’s Houthi rebels seize cargo ship in Red Sea’ (Al Jazeera, 19 November 2023) <Yemen’s Houthi rebels seize cargo ship in Red Sea | Israel-Palestine conflict News | Al Jazeera> accessed 23 November 2023.

[2] Emily McGarvey, Ana Nicolaci da Costa, ‘Japan condemns Yemen's Houthi rebels hijack of cargo ship in Red Sea’ (BBC News, 20 November 2023) <https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67470711> accessed 23 November 2023.

[3] Ibid. 

[4] Ibid. 

[5] Ibid. 

[6] Maha El Dahan, ‘Who are Yemen's Houthis and why did they attack Israel?’ (Reuters, 1 November 2023) <Who are Yemen's Houthis and why did they attack Israel? | Reuters> accessed 23 November 2023.

[7] Ibid. 

[8] Ibid. 

[9] Ibid. 

[10] Ibid.