In recent months, several German shipping companies have apparently received threatening emails from the Houthi militia in Yemen warning of further attacks.
Risk potential
According to the German Shipowners' Association (VDR) in Hamburg, the threats were directed at shipping companies calling at Israeli ports and travelling in the waters near Yemen, among others. The VDR has also received such threatening emails and speaks of "targeted attempts at intimidation". It is taking the threats "very seriously" and is in constant dialogue with its almost 200 members and the security authorities.
Closed sea routes
According to the AFP news agency, the sender of the emails is the "Humanitarian Operations Coordination Centre" (HOCC), which, according to the federal police, is presumably under the control of the Houthi regime. In the threatening emails, the HOCC warns shipping companies not to call at Israeli harbours with their ships. Anyone disregarding this would end up on a sanctions list. This list prohibits ships from travelling through the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. Those who do so must expect direct attacks on their ships. It is not clear from the VDR statement how many threatening emails German shipowners have received.
Map of sea areas with Gulf of Aden, Bab al-Mandab, etc. Graphic: Tecumseh*1301, CC BY-SA 4.0
Since the outbreak of the Middle East conflict in October 2023, around 200 merchant ships have been attacked by the Iran-aligned Houthi militia with missiles, drones and cruise missiles. Several sailors were killed and numerous ships were hijacked, sunk or severely damaged. The "Axis of Resistance" is carrying out these attacks in solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and, according to their own statements, they want to force an end to the Israeli military operation.
No solution in sight
Most major shipping companies are now avoiding the area, including members of the German Shipowners' Association. Even regardless of their location, ships with suspected links to Israel are considered potential targets, according to the association. As an alternative route, many shipping companies are travelling around the southern tip of Africa. A diversion of almost two weeks with high costs.
USS Carney (Arleigh Burke class, DDG 64) shooting down an SM2. Photo: U.S. Navy
Although international missions such as the US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian (December 2023), the EU Operation Aspides (February 2024) and the European Union Naval Force - Somalia (Operation Atalanta since 2008) are actively working to ensure the safety of shipping in this region, the security of maritime routes is still not guaranteed. Although these transport routes are important for Europe's security of supply.
kdk, Tagesschau, VDR
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