The Red Sea Crisis, which began after Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023, looked to be winding down as shippers planned to gradually resume service in the Red Sea after nearly two years. Two new attacks have now stirred concern that the Red Sea Crisis is not going to come to a quiet end without drastic measures.
This week, a Liberian-registered commercial cargo ship came under attack off the coast of Yemen, according to the Liberian government. Two crew members were killed. And, yesterday, the Greek-flagged ship Eternity C was attacked in the Red Sea, resulting in injured crew members.
And, in an attack that made global news, the vessel Magic Seas was attacked over the weekend by the Iranian-backed Houthis. That vessel, also flying under the Liberian flag, caught fire forcing the crew to abandon it.
The return of pessimism towards the end of the Red Sea Crisis.
The attack on Magic Seas marked the first-time a commercial shipping vessel had been attacked in the Red Sea since late last year in December. And with it, months of cautious optimism turned to pessimism, with shippers wondering if the Red Sea Crisis will end anytime soon – or if the current disruptions mark the new normal.
Almost two full years after the Hamas attacks on Israel of October 7, 2023, most commercial cargo ships are still avoiding the Red Sea, choosing the longer route around the Cape of Africa, a journey that can add days to shipping times. The shipping industry implemented a suspension of operations following coordinated attacks on commercial vessels there beginning in late 2023.
Why the Red Sea Crisis is so difficult to bring to an end.
Tensions between Israel and Gaza, where Hamas has controlled the territory of Gaza for many years, have ebbed and expanded over the past few months, with multiple ceasefire announcements and resumptions of violence. Even when attacks by both parties were paused, attacks on shipping vessels continued, even if at a lower scale. That changed back in December 2024, when the last attack on a commercial vessel occurred, with President Donald Trump taking credit for coming to an agreement with the Houthis.
The problem, however, is that the Houthis are backed by Iran, and tensions there have recently skyrocketed with Israeli and U.S. attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. The Houthis took responsibility for the attack on Magic Seas, and stated its reason for attacking was related to the Gaza conflict. And until Iran calls for a full pause on those attacks, they might continue.
