The US has launched a major attack on Houthi rebels over the weekend, with US president Donald Trump insisting that he would continue to target the rebels following their attacks on commercial shipping vessels.
US Central Command confirmed on X/Twitter that it had launched a “large scale operation against Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen” on Saturday (15 March).
Trump said that the attacks on shipping “must stop, starting today”, and threatened further action against the rebels and their backers, singling out Iran for their alleged support.
“It has been over a year since a US flagged commercial ship safely sailed through the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, or the Gulf of Aden,” he said in a post on Truth Social.
According to a White House briefing document, 75% of UK and US affiliated traffic was re-routed around the Cape of Good Hope, adding an extra ten days and US$1m in fuel costs to each voyage.
Military strikes
Footage released online appeared to show ship-based missiles and military aircraft being launched, with an unidentified compound being struck by explosives.
According to Ali Al-Sakani, a Yemeni freelance journalist, the attacks hit Houthi strongholds across the country, including the homes of senior leaders and the Houthi Supreme Political Council headquarters.
Al-Sakani added that the full impact remained “unclear”, due to censorship by the rebels.
The Houthi-run health ministry said at least 53 people were killed and nearly 100 others were injured in the strikes.
Houthi response
According to Al Jazeera, Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, said that the rebels' forces had responded with an attack on the US aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman and other warships.
The Houthi rebels also said that it would continue to target commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
After a temporary ceasefire was brokered between Israel and Hamas, the Houthi rebels announced that they would partially suspend attacks on merchant vessels.
Under the previous Biden administration, US forces conducted regular attacks on the Houthi rebels.
The EU also launched Operation Aspides to protect commercial shipping, with European vessels patrolling the Red Sea.
Return to the Red Sea?
The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) said that high-level discussions had taken place on a possible return to the Suez Canal for commercial shipping.
According to a press statement from the Egyptian government, SCA chairman, lieutenant general Osama Rabie, and Mediterranean Shipping Company CEO, Soren Toft, held discussions on Sunday (16 March) on a return to the Suez Canal.
“Despite the Red Sea crisis, Rabie emphasised that the Suez Canal remains fully operational and has expanded its service offerings,” the government said.
Toft, who also chairs the World Shipping Council, reportedly said he did not “favour the Cape of Good Hope route”, and “expressed hope” for a return to the canal.
Costs
Commercial vessels have not returned to the Suez Canal, despite diplomatic and military efforts.
Additionally, shipping costs remain higher than the pre-covid average, despite a significant fall over the last few months.
The Drewry World Container Index fell 7% to US$2,368 per 40ft container last Thursday.
While this is the lowest reading since January 2024, it is still 67% higher than the 2019 average of US$1,420.
