Just weeks ago, while sailing through the Red Sea, the Greek-owned ship the MV Tutor, was sunk in a horrific display of firepower. Video footage shows explosions from both sides of the ship, while the perpetrators in the background are heard cheering, giving praise to Allah. The sinking of the MV Tutor was a reescalation of tensions in the Red Sea by the Yemeni, Shia-militant group known as the Houthis. The group garnered attention at the beginning of the Israel-Palestine conflict, retaliating with a series of attacks on passing cargo ships which they deemed to have ties with Israel and the West. Since the beginning of the conflict on October 7th, Houthi-inspired attacks have been effective in causing widespread damage for global shipping. The attacks have also resulted in several fatalities on cargo ships, all of whom have no involvement in the Israel-Hamas war. The group’s violence, persistence and impact cannot be understated.

Despite the significance of their attacks, Houthi actions in the Red Sea have been underreported compared to other ongoing conflicts. It appears that the perception of the attacks in and around Yemen are deemed of lesser importance - simply a series of sporadic terrorist attacks. Despite over 60 attacks in the Red Sea since 2023, an analysis of Google trends demonstrates that search results for the Houthi movement have been few and far between with only a single major spike in attention during the second week of January when the US sent airstrikes into Yemen. Granted, the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza have been far deadlier, but the attacks by Houthi rebels hold the capacity to affect more people. Following media trends leads to contradictory conclusions, however. If Houthi actions in the Red Sea were objectively less significant than either the war in Ukraine or the war in Gaza, this can’t explain the direct military responses of the U.S. and its allies. None of the other on-going conflicts have received that sort of attention.

The Houthis have access to one of the most significant chokepoints in the entire world, holding the opportunity to open a Pandora’s Box if left unchecked. The group’s possibilities in this region appear numerous, and the attacks on shipping are simply a glimpse into an undesirable future of chronic instability. These opportunities to damage the West would take focus away from the Russian bombardment of Ukraine and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. If the current US administration puts the Houthis in the backseat, dire circumstances will follow. This paper seeks to elucidate several areas that, without sufficient responses and robust policies from the international community, Houthis may severely disrupt. By understanding these potential weak points, effective policy making can help to eliminate such problems before irreparable harm is caused.

Shipping Disrupted

The most commonly cited problem caused by the Houthis has been their attacks on cargo ships passing through the Red Sea. Using Iranian-made weapons, with the guidance of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), any ship passing through is, and has been, at risk of being targeted. While many of these attacks have been sporadic, the Houthis have been effective at causing chaos for the United States, who have high stakes in the international shipment of goods. For Houthi leaders, this appears to be a calculated move. While the attacks have been aimed at any ship passing through, regardless of their diplomatic ties, the Houthis have been able to take a big hit on the United States.

Undersea Cables

Undersea cables have been used for over a century connecting historically isolated regions, helping them overcome their geographical limits via these cables. Passing through the Bab al Mandab Strait are multiple undersea cables. Some of these cables are no more than 100m deep at some points, as reported by Data Center Dynamics (2024), putting them in extreme vulnerability to disruption.

For most undersea cables damage to them isn’t uncommon. According to the Center of Strategic & International Studies, 150-200 cables break per year (2021), mostly by fishing boats mis-dropping their anchor. This statistic provides an unintentional blueprint to how the Houthis could cause disruption to regional connectivity.