Watan-Commercial ships struggle for survival in the face of attacks launched by the Houthi Ansar Allah group in the Red Sea, linking their safety to the cessation of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.
In an attempt to avoid attacks and ensure safe passage, some ships heading towards the Bab el Mandeb have started to publicize their names with the statement “no connection to Israel” in their identification and tracking programs on websites.
A circulated image on social media showed a ship taking this action in an attempt to protect itself from these attacks, a behavior that seems to be becoming an option for many ships.
Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have forced maritime transport companies to change their routes, with an increasing number opting for the more costly and time-consuming route around the Cape of Good Hope.
The Houthi group claims to target Israel and ships associated with it to pressure for the cessation of the occupation army’s war on the Gaza Strip.
Attacks on 25 ships
Since November 18th of last year, 25 commercial ships sailing in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden have been subjected to attacks.
These attacks jeopardize the corridor through which up to 12% of global trade passes, prompting the United States to form a multinational naval force to protect ships from these attacks.
Circumventing the Cape of Good Hope
With the circumvention of the Cape of Good Hope, the voyage duration for ships between Asia and Europe increases by 10 to 20 days more than necessary when crossing the Suez Canal, which connects the Mediterranean and Red Seas and handles 12% of international maritime trade.