There have just been reports indicating that Greek shipping companies have been receiving threatening messages from Houthi rebels regarding their vessels transiting the Red Sea. Most of this has targeted ships owned by different firms that have some kind of relations with Israel, but it has recently spread to ships that do not have a defined link with the country.
These threatening e-mails, starting May of last year, cautioned the companies that their fleets would be attacked and be met with sanctions should their vessels continue to sail through those regions where this allegedly infringing docking had taken place, ostensibly by virtue of Houthi-imposed restrictions on docking at Israeli ports.
The campaign has only intensified since then, with at least six Greek shipping companies reportedly targeted. The Houthis, who have been allegedly assisted by Iran, have been more belligerent since their attacks of commercial vessels that were allegedly connected to Israel, the US, and the UK.
These incidents have sounded the alarm bells in the marine industry as some businesses have opted not to use the Red Sea route due to the fear of losing their crews while others remain operational to meet contractual obligation. Due to the worsening threat, premiums for insurance over ships that have to pass through the region have also increased. (Greek City Times)
At the same time, this is yet another situation that highlights even greater geopolitical stakes for the Middle East, with the Houthis casting an increasingly wider net to disrupt maritime trade.