Page 15 - ITLN January - February 2024 Issue for the Website

US bombards Houthi strongholds,
fresh attack in Red Sea
U.S. forces conducted a strike against
a Houthi radar site in Yemen on
January 13 at 3:45 a.m. (Sana’a time).
"This strike was conducted by the USS
Carney (DDG 64) using Tomahawk
Land Attack Missiles and was a
follow-on action on a specific military
target associated with strikes taken
on January 12 designed to degrade
the Houthis’ ability to attack maritime
vessels, including commercial
vessels," says the latest update from
U.S. Central Command.
Iranian-backed Houthi militants
have attempted to attack and harass
vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf
of Aden 28 times since November 19, Command aircraft and Tomahawk according to Philip Damas, Group
2023, the update added. Land Attack Missiles launched from Managing Director and Head, Supply
"These illegal incidents include surface and subsurface platforms.” Chain Advisors, Drewry.
attacks that have employed anti-ship "The next five weeks leading up
ballistic missiles, unmanned aerial Houthis will react - how/when/what to the Chinese New Year (February
vehicles, and cruise missiles." is uncertain 10, 2024) is going to be very difficult
In the latest attacks, the UK The Houthis are likely much more for shippers and for shipping," says
Maritime Trade Operations said on capable militarily than many think, Damas. "...but we at Drewry have
X that a missile was fired towards a according to Jason Miller, Professor, grounds to believe that shipping has
vessel approximately 90 NM South Michigan State University - Eli Broad more than enough capacity to do these
East of Aden, Yemen on January 12, College of Business. diversions around Africa. Spot rates
2024. "The Master reported a missile "They have substantial stockpiles of will decline after CNY."
landing in the water 400-500 metres long-range missiles, including many From a shipper perspective, the
away and being followed by three small of Iran's best weapons. While Iranian transit times will clearly increase with
craft. The Master reported no injuries weapon systems aren't as capable as the round of Africa routing, says Alan
or damage." Vessels have been advised many Chinese or Russian systems, they Murphy, CEO, Sea-Intelligence. "It will
to transit with caution and report any are still deadly. To date, the Houthis be a bit more than a week longer from
suspicious activity to UKMTO. may not have been intending on sinking Asia to North Europe, and up to two
Earlier, on January 12, the commercial vessels, just causing weeks longer into the Mediterranean.
U.S. Central Command forces, in disruptions. Will this change following Whilst this is certainly a serious
coordination with the United Kingdom, U.S. and U.K. military strikes? problem for many shippers, we should
and support from Australia, Canada, "U.S. and U.K. strikes, while keep in mind that these disruptions
the Netherlands and Bahrain, degrading Houthi military capability, are no way near to the ones caused
conducted joint strikes on Houthi are but a fraction of what would be during the pandemic.
targets to degrade their capability to needed in the event of a broader "We would like to make it
continue illegal and reckless attacks conflict. As such, this isn't a matter abundantly clear that the current
on U.S. and international vessels and that militarily could be solved in a few capacity outlook is fraught with a high
commercial shipping in the Red Sea. weeks. We are talking months (plural) degree of uncertainty, however, the
Over 100 precision-guided of strikes." present data shows that the shippers
munitions of various types were used could expect a capacity crunch for
in the strikes, according to the update Uncertainty looms Asian exports in the coming weeks."
from the U.S. Air Forces Central More than 800 ships representing On Asia-North Europe, the impact
Commander Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich. about 10 million TEUs, or is quite visible due to a combination
“These strikes consisted of coalition approximately 1/3rd of the world’s of some services being held back
air and maritime strikes and support container ship capacity, are affected in departure from Asia in the short-
assets from across the region, by the Red Sea attacks and reroutings term awaiting re-routing, and some
including U.S. Naval Forces Central around the Cape of Good Hope, services clearly arriving late into Asia,
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