The Houthi rebels from Yemen want to expand their attacks beyond the Red Sea and are threatening to attack merchant ships worldwide, according to the German Shipowners' Association (VDR). The VDR condemns the threat in the strongest possible terms and is once again calling for more German naval presence.
The new email from the Houthis to the VDR and several member shipping companies is said to state: "All companies are asked to stop doing business with Israeli enemy ports. Otherwise, their ships will be attacked wherever they can be reached or are within range of our missiles and drones.
According to the VDR, the threat is one of a series of similar messages issued by the Houthis in the past and follows a series of attacks against traders in the Red Sea. Most recently, they attacked the Greek bulk carrier "Magic Seas" (Liberian flag) on 6 July 2025 and the Greek bulk carrier "Eternity C" (Liberian flag) on 7 July 2025 in several waves. Both ships had to be abandoned and sank. Four crew members on the "Eternity C" presumably lost their lives and an unknown number of people were taken hostage by the Houthis.
VDR is therefore calling for trade routes to be secured - including with more military protection where necessary. Attacks on civilian ships, blackmail via individual threatening emails and the deliberate disruption of global supply routes must not become the new normal, said the VDR CEO. The safety of seafarers and the stability of the global movement of goods must have the highest priority.
This gives this armed conflict a new quality, unfortunately without any further or concrete solutions - from either side.
The published video of the sinking of the "Eternity C" is hard to bear:
kdk, NDR
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