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Why have Yemeni militants, the Houthis, captured a ship bound for India? What are the reactions of Israel and other stakeholders? Who are the Houthis, and how do they relate to the Israel-Hamas conflict?
On Sunday (November 19), the Houthis, a Yemeni rebel group, hijacked an Israel-linked ship destined for India, sparking fears of a new dimension being added to the ongoing Gaza battle. Houthi fighters dropped from helicopters on the ship and kidnapped all 25 crew members. The crew is being handled “in accordance with Islamic values,” according to the insurgents.
The hijacking has been described as “another Iranian act of terrorism” by Israel, which claims the ship is British-owned and managed by Japanese crew.
Why have the Houthis boarded the ship bound for India? What are the reactions of various stakeholders to this? Who are the Houthis , and how do they relate to the Israel-Hamas conflict?
The Galaxy Leader was sailing from Turkey to Pipavav in Gujarat, with no cargo on board. Members of the crew hail from Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Mexico, and the Philippines.
The hijacking is consistent with the Houthis’ previous warning, in which they stated that if Israel maintained its atrocities in Palestine, they would strike Israel-linked ships in the Red Sea and the critical Bab al-Mandeb strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
According to Reuters, the group’s leader, Abdulmalik al-Houthi, stated in a broadcast speech last week, “Our eyes are open to constantly monitor and search for any Israeli ship in the the Red Sea, particularly in Bab al-Mandab and close Yemeni regional waters.”
Following the hijacking, the Houthis’ top negotiator and spokesman, Mohammed Abdul-Salam, stated in an online statement that the Israelis only understand “the language of force,” according to the Associated Press. The seizing of the Israeli ship is a practical measure that illustrates Yemeni military forces’ will to wage the maritime combat at any cost…”This is only the beginning, he continued.
Israel has stated that it does neither own or operate the ship, nor does any of its crew members.
“This is just another Iranian terrorist attack that reflects an increase in Iran’s belligerence against the inhabitants of the free world, with global ramifications in terms of the security of global shipping routes,” said Netanyahu’s office.
The hijacking was described as a “very grave incident of global consequence” by the Israeli military, according to the Associated Press.
The ship, however, appears to have ties to an Israeli tycoon. According to the Associated Press, ownership facts in public shipping databases linked the ship’s owners to Ray Car Carriers, which was founded by Abraham “Rami” Ungar, one of Israel’s richest men.
An explosion occurred on a ship associated to Ungar in the Gulf of Oman in 2021. The Israeli media accused Iran at the time.
Nippon Yusen, a Japanese company, ran the Galaxy Leader. Japanese officials have criticized the hijacking and stated that they are negotiating with the Houthis while also requesting assistance from Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Iran in order to free the ship and crew.
The Houthis are a rebel group that has been at odds with the Yemeni government for nearly a decade. They control northern Yemen, including the official capital of Sanaa. The official government is presently based in Aden.
The Houthi tribe inspired the name of the group. The Houthis are Zaydi Shias backed by Iran, whereas Yemen’s government is backed by Iran’s main foe Saudi Arabia and the West. The group’s origins can be traced back to the early 1990s Zaydi religious revival movement.
Houthis’ sympathy for “brothers and sisters in Palestine” originates from his antipathy toward Israel and the West. According to Reuters, they have tens of thousands of fighters as well as a massive arsenal of ballistic missiles and armed drones. While the Houthi stronghold in Yemen is too far away for their rockets and fighters to pose a direct threat to Israel, they have begun shooting missiles against the “enemy country.”
The greatest risk posed by the Houthis’ activity is that it will enlarge the conflict, potentially dragging in Iran. In addition, if Israel wishes to retaliate by attacking Houthi territory, its rockets will have to fly across Saudi Arabia, potentially prompting the powerful Muslim country to enter the battle. The seizure of vessels at sea may also include numerous other countries with interests in the region’s maritime trade.
