Houthi strikes: Indian Navy saves U.S. ship crew
Houthi strikes: Indian Navy saves U.S. ship crew (Getty Images)
The Indian Navy saved the crew of a U.S. ship in the Gulf of Aden after an attack by the Houthi group from Yemen. The Red Sea escalation is caused by continued Houthi attacks on trade ships, provoking disruptions in sea routes and affecting global trade, Reuters and U.S. News report.
The attack on the Genco Picardy happened late on Wednesday, prompting the U.S. military to respond with strikes on 14 Houthi missiles. This incident is part of a series of attacks by the Houthis, which has been targeting ships in and around the Red Sea since November.
The Houthi militia, aligned with Iran, has targeted ships in the Red Sea, impacting trade between Asia and Europe. The Houthis claim to support Palestinians in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza and threaten to target U.S. ships in response to American and British actions.
India responded to the crisis by diverting a warship deployed in the region to rescue the 22 crew members aboard the Genco Picardy, which included nine Indians. Fortunately, all crew members were reported safe, and a fire on the vessel had been extinguished. The Houthi movement claimed a "direct hit" with its missiles on the bulk carrier.
Houthi attacks disrupt global trade
The attacks on shipping routes in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, which constitute about 15% of the world's shipping traffic, have significant consequences for global trade. Shipping companies like Maersk were diverting vessels away from the Red Sea by taking a longer route around Africa or by pausing until the safety of vessels could be ensured.
On January 11, the United States and the United Kingdom launched powerful strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. This was in response to sustained Houthi attacks on shipping lanes.
U.S. President Joe Biden said the strikes in Yemen were a message that the U.S. would not tolerate attacks on its people or threats to navigation. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that the attacks had caused "major disruption to a vital trade route and (higher) commodity prices". The Houthi group in Yemen stated they would continue targeting ships going towards Israel.
The price of oil went up by 4% because oil tankers changed their routes away from the Red Sea.
Read more about the escalations in the Red Sea region in the article by RBC-Ukraine.
